To My Friends Who are Disappointed in the Election.

This post is written for those who have been troubled by the election.  Please, this is not a post for debate or comments of that type.  I think most of us are well worn out with them, and they are no longer necessary.  This is a post for my friends who love the Bible, a post that God gave to me to share.  If reading my point of view may make you angry, it might be better if you just skip this post.  Thank you for understanding.







On the night of the election, while the votes were still being counted, I escaped from the political drama to read my son some bed time stories.  I've been so caught up with getting crafts done for craft sales, he has been the one neglected.  He's quiet; the girls are expressive and let me know of their needs to be talked to and helped.  He goes off on the couch and draws pictures or plays by himself.

  I could tell by the way he was acting that he needed some attention from me.  When he comes and stares at me and wants to sit on my lap while I am working away, I know that's his sign that he needs me to respond to him.  I buried us both in the covers and opened a book of stories. We left on a journey to a place far away.  I realized that we both had needed it.

  When I'd finished the stories and knew he was a few blinks away from slumber, I came down the stairs, a sense of gloom over what I had hoped would happen for our country.  The things I have seen happening in our country, the obvious rejection of the God that I love and serve, makes me fear.  In the past couple of years of having discussions with family, friends, acquaintances, I have seen the vehemence from many that made me feel their hatred for God and for my belief in Him.  It hurt, but I know it is not so much me that they hate, but what God says in the Bible.

  Depression set in.  I lifted my eyes to the only place I know to go when I don't know what to think or how to react.  I thought of King David in the Psalms.  I thought of the cursing of the wicked and wickedness and his prayers for God to send judgment, while having mercy and protecting those who love Him.  Should I now change my prayers, the ones I have begged and asked God for, that mercy would be the measure he shows to us? "Be merciful unto us, O Lord.  Heal our land.  Draw us back to you.  Forgive the bloodshed of the innocent, the rejection of you in our schools and our lives.  Have mercy."  In my anger, I asked, "Shall I change my prayer for judgment, dear God.  How can you let us continue down this path of destroying the unborn and heading down a path so many have taken in history that has led to the destruction of their nation?  Will we become like Sodom and Gomorrah, or will you spare us and cause us to repent, like Ninevah?"

  I opened my Bible to the Psalms.  I have been reading there, and it always gives me comfort and instruction.

Psalm 115

² Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?

³ But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

⁴ Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.

⁵ They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:

⁶ They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:

⁷ They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.

⁸ They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.

⁹ O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

¹⁰ O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

¹¹ Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

¹² The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.

¹³ He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.

¹⁴ The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.

¹⁵ Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.

¹⁶ The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

¹⁷ The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.

¹⁸ But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD.

"Praise?  Dear God, you want me to praise you for this?  How can I praise you?  Can you change my anger, my fear into praise?"

And then these verses brought light to my eyes:

Psalm 118

¹ O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.

² Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

³ Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

⁴ Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

⁵ I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.

⁶ The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

⁷ The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.

⁸ It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

⁹ It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.

Mercy.  Thanksgiving.  Praise.  Trust.  Reliance on God.

I had heard some might respond to this election with rioting, had the election been unfavorable in their light.  But to the Christian, God still wants to the same response as we should give the day before the election, the day after the election, during good times and bad.  He wants our praise.  He wants our thanksgiving.  He wants us to stand for right and then trust in Him.

There is no greater peace than to rest in this.

 

^{Psalm 118}

²⁸ Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.

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