That's the word I would offer to our nation following the election.
I had the opportunity to be with our Bishop Sharma Lewis at a conference for Mid-sized United Methodist Church Pastors on the day following the election. As you can imagine, there were mixed emotions in the room.
The Bishop woke up that morning feeling the need to change her morning message to center on Proverbs 3:5-6, which wisely states "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight."
She went on to share great pieces of reflection such as;
- It doesn't say trust when convenient or when all is going well.
- Life is changing every day be but God is the one constant in life.
- It's better to trust in the Lord than have confidence in people.
- The Lord we serve has power. Imagine what would happen if God's people started praying, listening and believing what we pray.
- As a country, nation and people of God, now more than ever before we need to pray and even fast.
- We are in critical times and need to stand for God because people need Jesus.
- God is stirring the lives and gifts of his people who are called for such a time as this.
So, instead of frustration, despair or fear, we are encouraged to;
- trust in the Lord our God
- lean not on our own understanding
- acknowledge God
and God will make straight paths
So, not to minimize how this election will affect people's everyday lives over the next several years, we can and must hold on to hope... because our hope does not reside in who is in the White House for the next four years... our hope is in God who has been, is and will be on the throne for all eternity.
Hope in God,
Pastor Mike
