anxiety

He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

As we went to the polls on Tuesday, it was a given that not everyone would be pleased with the results. We had heard that this election could turn the nation in a far left spiral or maintain status quo a little longer. Which would it be? And now we know.

If I recall, just two short years ago we were hearing the same concerns. We were told then that the results of that presidential election would get the nation back on track or continue the slide down a very slippery slope. Both sides of the aisle believed the opposing side projected a dark path toward a dictatorship of sorts. We’ve heard similar language in this mid-term cycle.

But I have to say that, regardless of the election results, no one really walks away a winner. No one walks away unscathed. There is so much unrest and discord and distrust in political leaders today that election results only resolve one issue. Which party gets to be in charge for a few years.

Politicians make many promises while they’re on the campaign trail just to break them once elected. Not always, but many times. An R or D after a candidate’s name on a ballot doesn’t guarantee anything. We can’t place our hope in any one candidate. They will fail us. Miserably. Many people are greatly disillusioned and disappointed with both parties.

Both sides believe their side is right. Each believes their plans are better and they should be in control. Each side wants to set the tone of this nation for the next two years. Each wants to punish the leaders of the opposing party. One party never seems to get their act together to do just that thing, while the other party goes for the jugular before they’re even in charge. One party believes this country is in for a rough ride these next two years, and the other party is gloating and calling for payback.

And just for the record. There is evil and corruption in both political parties. There is abuse of power and authority, and there are under the table deals. Meetings unrecorded and under cover occur and most of us are unaware. Unqualified and unvetted people are placed in positions they should never be in. Some walk through doors that have been opened wide for them, while others break down the door and call it fair.

Many people voted in person. Many others voted early. And yet many opted out of their responsibility. Some people think their one little vote won’t do any good, so they refuse to vote. I’ve read that if every Christian voted, this country would be in an entirely different situation right now. Think about that.

What we have to know is that God is in control. He knows every vote that was counted. He knows of the depth of corruption in our country’s political system. He knows if election fraud is a widespread issue or not. He knows the hearts and plans of those in office and those newly elected. He knows the minutest details of the next two years and exactly what will play out.

If he wanted to, God could remove all evil with just the blink of an eye. He could snuff out all corruption with the flick of a wrist. He could allow only truth to be told and shutter all lies by just thinking about it. But he doesn’t. He gives us freedom to choose how we live.

God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne. Psalm 47:8

If you’ve read your history books, you have to know there is a pattern of decline for all great nations. It’s just the way it is in this world. No country with super power status stays in that position forever.

Our great nation has had a great run of successes. Two hundred and fifty years is nothing to be ashamed of. But we’ve become complacent as a nation, and we assume things will continue to go well for us because we’re the most powerful nation on earth. As we can see, we’ve been sadly mistaken. We’ve forgotten to keep God as the head of state. We’ve replaced him with false gods. So, these election results are no surprise. This is what happens when God is left out of our society. When God is pushed away, he won’t demand his way.

What does all of this have to do with faith in God? What does this have to do with Christianity and the hope of the cross of Christ? Where is God when the nations falter? Why doesn’t he rescue us from the upheaval that poor political decisions cause? Well, the sun came up today. The world is still turning. God is still in charge, and he knows what’s going on.

If you’ve read the book of Daniel, you know that the nation of Israel (God’s chosen people) suffered a devastating loss. It was a political defeat of the ages when the Babylonian army besieged the city, and King Jehoiachin relinquished power to the enemy. The best of the best people of Israel were led away as captives and were sent to live in exile in Babylon. But while they were living there, the prophet Jeremiah instructed them to enjoy the wealth of the nation where they were exiled. Get married and raise families. Live your best life even under exile conditions. And he commanded them to pray for their new homeland, because the success of their homeland was their own success.

And that’s what we must do today. We must pray for the success of our elected leaders. We must pray for the success of our nation. Because in the success of our nation and our leaders, we will find success. It doesn’t mean we have to applaud and agree with their decisions. It doesn’t mean we have to fall in line with their agenda. But we must pray for the best for this nation. And we must pray that godly advisors surround them in their work.

But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. Jeremiah 29:7

As today’s culture continues to morally and ethically slide down the slippery slope of radicalism, Christians today must continue to put on the full armor of God each day. We must be strong and courageous in living out our faith by never compromising truth. We know that the kingdom of Jesus Christ is unshakeable and will not fall, regardless of how shaky our world may be.

It’s time to be reminded that God is in control of the universe. He always has been, and he always will be. This is his world. And even if this election causes this country to descend into chaos, we believers in the God who reigns supreme over all the earth know that he is with us. He didn’t promise us an easy, carefree life. In fact, quite the opposite. He said we will be persecuted because of our faith. And we have to stop and wonder if that time could soon be upon us. We must be prepared to suffer when those who oppose biblical truths hold political power.

It’s time to dig deep into the Word of God and firm up our faith. It’s time to study to show ourselves approved by the God we say we serve. Regardless of which party is in power, now is the time for all people to call on God. We must go about our days doing the work set before us, all the while trusting God and his providence. He is with us and he is for us. Let’s not be against him.

What we must take from this election cycle is this. God knows the future. He humbles the proud; even elected officials. And it may just be our time to experience a bit of God’s judgment as our country continues to push him away. It is time for believers to search for God’s peace when earthly peace is unattainable. We could be entering a season of turmoil like we’ve never experienced before.

God is still sovereign, and he rules the nations. Not a single thing misses his eye. And we can fully trust him and his timing. May his name be praised.

For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations. Psalm 22:28

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!” 1 Chronicles 16:31

The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. Psalm 103:19

It’s Ok

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

I recently watched a video of America’s Got Talent from four years ago. A young woman singing under the name of Nightbirde sang an original song titled “It’s Ok.” But things weren’t really ok in her life. She had had cancer for several years and had been given only a two percent change of survival. Yet she lived with a life full of joy and happiness. She said, and I quote, “it’s important that everyone knows that I’m so much more than the bad things that happen to me.” And when she sang the words of her song, the calmness and confidence in her voice earned her the golden buzzer. She said that you don’t have to wait until your life is perfect in order to be happy.

And she’s right.

There was a look of astonishment on the face of each of the judges as they listened to her story. Those judges who had fame and fortune at their fingertips were very unsure of how to handle someone who was so calmly dealing with a life threatening illness. Little did they know at that audition that this young woman had only months to live. Oh. They gave her high praise, saying her performance was very powerful and authentic. They were touched not only by her voice, but also with her story.

You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy. That’s what she said, and she meant it. She lived through hard times, and yet she was glowing with peace and happiness. Knowing that she had only a two percent change of surviving the cancer that was ravaging her body, she lived well. And she lived forgiven.

This young woman was a child of God. She had laid her fears and faults and sins at the feet of her Savior, and he had forgiven her. She knew that if the ninety-eight percent chance of dying came true, she would spend eternity with Jesus Christ. And that’s where she is today. She’s in eternity. She didn’t let fear of the unknown diminish her joy.

I dare to ask myself. If I had a two percent change of surviving some horrendous disease, how happy and calm would I be? I’m not sure I can answer that today, because I haven’t been dealt that diagnosis. I don’t know how I would respond to a medical death sentence. Would I calmly look death in the face and keep moving forward? Would I fight back? Would I look for alternate treatments? Would I listen to my doctors? Would I stand strong in the face of pain and suffering? Would I shrivel up in the fetal position and not get out of bed? I don’t know.

And the song that she sang. It’s Ok. She believed it was ok that her life was falling apart. That there was a high probability she wouldn’t grow old. That she would lose her life before it ever really began. And she was ok with that? If I were in her shoes, would I be ok? I don’t know.

Her friend said that “Jesus is why Jane believed a painfully tragic life could still be worth living—that life could be beautiful even when the world came crashing down.” Do I believe that to be true? Absolutely, yes, I do.

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isaiah 43:2-3

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

We don’t have to be facing a death sentence in order for life to be difficult. We don’t have to be staring the end of life in the eye in order to be weakened by fear and the feeling of defeat. It could be getting up and going to a difficult job each day. Or, it could be facing a brand new situation that puts us way outside of our comfort zone. It could be a spontaneous moment when we are put on the spot and forced to defend our beliefs in a public setting. It could be a forced premature ending of a marriage we thought would survive until death us do part. It could be a financial crisis we’re facing. It could be the consequences of a very poor decision.

What I do know is that God is the God of the ages. He is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Everything that comes our way is ordained and approved by him. Just as he allowed Satan to sift the life of Job down to ashes, he could do the same to us without our consent. Will we still trust him? Will we, at the end of the day, say it’s ok that my life has fallen apart? Will we say that these grim circumstances that we face are worth every moment of suffering as we wait to stand in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?

There are many curves in the road of life as our faith is refined, and much of that is out of our control. Oh. We don’t have to sit back and watch life fall apart. We can do our part to pick up the pieces as we place our complete trust in God. As we come to learn through our times of suffering that the sole source of our strength is the Lover of our souls, we can look forward to eternity at the end of our days with calmness and confidence in our Savior.

In the midst of our suffering, can we sing to the God who is with us in our suffering? The song may not be joyful, but the joy of the Lord can remain in us even during those low days. We can have the joy of the Lord within us regardless of our circumstances. During our pain, we can sing songs of lament but we don’t have to wallow in it.

Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. 2 Corinthians 6:10

It Will Be Worth It All

Sometimes the day seems long,
Our trials hard to bear.
We´re tempted to complain,
to murmur and despair.
But Christ will soon appear
to catch his bride away!
All tears forever over
in God’s eternal day!

CHORUS:
It will be worth it all
when we see Jesus!
Life’s trials will seem so small
when we see Christ.
One glimpse of his dear face,
all sorrow will erase.
So, bravely run the race
till we see Christ.

At times the sky seems dark,
with not a ray of light;
We’re tossed and driven on,
no human help in sight.
But there is One in heaven,
Who knows our deepest care;
Let Jesus solve your problems,
just go to him in prayer.

Life’s day will soon be o’re,
all storms forever past;
We’ll cross the great divide
to Glory, safe at last!
We’ll share the joys of heaven:
a harp, a home, a crown;
The tempter will be banished,
We’ll lay our burdens down.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:1-6

Self-Induced Stress

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

It’s true. Much of our stress is self-induced. We bring it on ourselves. Our minds work overtime and cause us to stew about things that will most likely never happen. And we just stir the pot of fear and what-ifs as if that’s all we have to do. I guess it’s important to ask ourselves why we’re stressing over something that may never happen. Have you actually sat down and calculated the risks? Have you listed both the pros and cons to see how they weigh on the scale of equality? Or, are you just giving yourself over to the fears of what if the unlikely really does happen?

I know. I’ve been doing the same thing for the past week or two. I don’t sleep well. I’m edgy. I’m easily distracted. And I just want this issue to go away. But the problem is that I’ve willfully and gladly created it. So now I have to live with the circus going on in my head. I don’t yet know how the situation will fully play out, so I must wait. I have high hopes and even higher expectations that all things will be right in the end. But there’s a small but mighty argument going on in my head that tells me something different could happen. Something could go terribly wrong. And am I prepared for that ugly scenario to be acted out in real life? No. I’m not.

Here’s what I have to tell myself. I can’t control the next crisis. And honestly. There may not be a crisis. Oh. My imaginings tell me there could be a crisis of magnificent proportions. But when I lay out the situation on paper I can see the likelihood that that happening is pretty small. So why do I fret? Why do I fear? Because I don’t know the outcome of the situation. And I don’t like surprises. So I have to conjure up in my mind all the possible scenarios to prepare myself for the worst. Even though they’ll probably never happen.

I’m sure I’m not the only person on this planet who prefers a calm and smooth life. Oh. I know there are some who enjoy the chaos of the unknown. There are some who instigate trouble wherever they go. They seem to always know how to cause a scene or stir up someone in their circle. But that’s not me. I prefer peace and tranquility. And right now, well, I do feel peaceful. But I’m short on tranquility.

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7

The thing is. I do give my worries and cares to God, but then they seem to come creeping back to me. I find them swirling in my mind at different times of the day. Or when I’m lying awake in the middle of the night. It’s frustrating to be so anxious, but this anxiousness won’t last forever. It’s only for a season. I know that, so why can’t I just lay it all down and be done with it? Because when it’s all said and done, I really do trust God.

Just ask a pregnant woman if she is anxious-free for those nine months of growing another human in her own body. The positive pregnancy test. The morning sickness. The weight gain. The heartburn. The flutter of new life. The back aches. The unknowns of labor and delivery. The new wardrobe. The doctor’s appointments. The ultrasound. The birth plan. The name. The care of a newborn. The nursery. The financial burden. And then she must raise the child to adulthood. Talk about stress. But it’s a stressor that most women willingly choose to add to their resume of life.

Just ask a new employee on their first day of a new job. They’re in a position to start anew, sometimes willingly or sometimes forced. They’ve left the old and familiar. They’ve sat through numerous interviews. They’ve submitted to pre-employment screenings and tests. They’ve accepted an offer. Now they walk into their new job full of hopes and fears. They have no idea what lies ahead. But they do it willingly.

Life is full of unknowns. We don’t know what tomorrow holds, but we know who holds tomorrow. Even when we choose to walk through new situations, God is with us. As long as we aren’t choosing to sin, God is walking with us through life’s changes. Even when we don’t know all the minute details, we can trust an all-seeing, all-knowing, all-powerful God to go before us to chart the path and to go behind us to protect us. He is with his faithful followers as we walk through life.