Blogs – 11-9-16
As I write this blog, it’s Election Day. Voters all across the U.S. are heading to the polls and electing the next leader of this great country of ours. I think we can all agree, it’s been a long journey getting here. Everyone is ready for the circus to be over.
By the time you read this, the election will be decided. We will know who won. Some of us will be thrilled; others will be disappointed. Some of us will feel hopeful and certain that good prevailed; others will feel defeated and fearful.
I will admit, I have my own fears right now. I have strong opinions about who I want in office (which I will keep to myself), and I worry about what will happen if things don’t go the way I hope. The overriding truth that I keep hearing over and over, however, is that God is in control. No matter who wins, God is still God and He has this. He already knows the outcome, He’s gone there before us, and He will not leave us or forsake us.
No matter what the outcome, God keeps putting one word in my heart…unity.
My prayer is that the first item on the agenda of whomever gets elected is to bring this country back together, to vigilantly seek ways to unite us. We have listened over and over to the many things that divide us and drive wedges between us until all of us want to scream ENOUGH!!!
Jesus warned against division in Luke.
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.” Luke 11:17
Jesus’ words make it very clear that division only leads to failure. I have never felt our country more divided on an election than it is now, and I believe this is a slippery slope that we need to get off of very, very quickly. We can’t keep going in the direction we have been and survive. We will eventually fall.
Our job is to accept the outcome of this election, whatever it may be, and move forward as ONE.
I believe that as Christians we have a special calling and duty to be in prayer about unity right now. Please join me in praying that no matter who wins, Americans react with civility. Pray a hedge of protection around the winner and the loser. Pray a hedge of protection around all of our leaders. Pray for God’s guidance for our leaders and that the Holy Spirit would go to work on both sides of the aisle. Pray that neighbors and communities come together and celebrate the fact that we still live in the greatest country on earth! We have our problems, no doubt, but we enjoy more freedoms than any other country. Let’s celebrate and talk about that!
Pray that we find a way to bridge the gap between our differing beliefs and come together as one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Please, please please, whether you feel like a winner as you read this or if you were on the losing team, join me in praying for unity!
Hugs and love,
Jill