Last night, I looked through my journal entries over the last 60 plus days, and a common theme was present – a divided nation in chaos.
Journal entry dated 9-30-2020:
“Last night was the first presidential debate – it proved one thing for sure – we are a divided nation.”
Adjectives to describe where we are today as a divided nation in 2020 in case anyone is reading these years from now:
- backbiting
- deception
- falsehoods
- lies
- division
- anger
- broken promises
- empty promises
- slander
- malice
- sickness
- death
- diversion
Other adjectives to add to the list describing a divided nation in 2020:
- unprecedented
- scary
- frightful
- anxiety
- depressed
- suicidal
- fearful
- hopeless
- broke
- jobless
- unexplained
- unimaginable
- unknown
- never before
- out of nowhere
- sad
- lonely
Sounds depressing.
Ok, now for the list of good adjectives that describe 2020.
- You can fill in the blank.
There have been good things, and those are different for everyone. Perspective also plays a role in naming something good as opposed to bad. But hey, I can’t help it if I can’t find many positive stories online. Apparently, good and happy don’t sell well. Or does it?
So far, 2020 is one for the record books. When we rang in the new year, no one ever imagined 2020 would turn out this way, and we still have a month and a half to go. No one saw it coming, but it is here, and we are living through it. You are living in a divided nation for such a time as this.
The above list is very depressing but very real for many people. Many are presently experiencing anxiety and fear. It’s understandable, and I won’t discount your feelings.
However, can I offer you hope, the same hope I hang onto each day as I muddle my way through this year?
Jesus Christ.
To me, Jesus is the only answer.
There’s a popular passage that has been circulating quite a bit for the last several months on social media leading up to the election – 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear them from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
What are we to do as believers, according to the passage above?
- humble ourselves
- pray
- seek the Lord
- turn from our wicked ways
We can pretend the list doesn’t apply to us. We can pray for our country and we should. But those things must start with each one of us.
I must humble myself and I must pray. I must seek the Lord, and I must turn from my wicked ways. How can I expect God to answer my prayers if I am not willing to obey his commands?
How can any of us expect God to move if we aren’t willing to move first?
The passage says, “if my people.” That’s me, and that’s you if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus.
Allow me to offer up another passage that doesn’t make the rounds on social media these days but is opposite from the adjectives I shared above.
Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.”
What are those things? Love? Joy? Peace? Kindness? Goodness? Self-control? Etc. etc.
Exactly.
Right now, many believers are upset about the results of the presidential election. Many are wondering what is to come. You’re not alone. I believe many on both sides of the aisle are holding their breath for official confirmation.
Understand this – we cannot see the big picture, and we do not know what the Lord is doing. But we know that while we watch and wait to see what happens, we are supposed to be doing the things outlined in 2 Chronicles 7:14, and we are supposed to be living according to Galatians 5:22-23.
Trust
Trust in the Lord, not in man.
Neither Trump nor Biden are Superman, and neither of them is God. Neither can give you eternal life or love you as much as the Lord does. Both men are broken and sinful. Both men have pasts just like us, and both have done things they would like to forget. I know I would, so drop that rock you’re holding in your hand.
Yes, there are many unknowns. 2020 has been the year of unknowns, and you are still here today.
Look up, keep your eyes on the Lord.
Remember his promises to you.
Hold tight to your faith and remember this, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” 2 Peter 3:8
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1
“Why, my soul are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalms 42:5
Keep looking up!
We Are A Divided Nation – Now What?
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