When you feel too small: Here’s hope for the Election
I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy.”-Psalm 116:1-
Do you ever choke up at the thought of what your children may face in days to come? I do. What will high school be like for them? It’s already changed so much. What will this country be like when they are raising kids? Do you feel too small to make a difference?
When I think small-scale, about what’s right in front of me, I feel grateful. Nearly every time I turn the water faucet on, I thank God we have clean water and can afford it. We don’t take our food for granted. I’m thankful for relatively safe roads and quiet neighborhoods. We also don’t take for granted the men and women called to protect this country, our military and first responders and the sacrifices they and their families make on our behalf. We thank God for these provisions and these people.
When I think big-scale, I am tempted to feel fearful. The minute I turn on the news and hear of global commerce, international diplomacy (or lack thereof), and anything about this year’s election, the more I can feel quite small and helpless. Do you?
But when I think even bigger-scale, Kingdom-scale, I remember Who hears my wee voice. To the Lord Almighty, all the nations are just a drop in the bucket and the coastlands are regarded to him as bits of dust -Isaiah 40:15-
Let’s remember that when the election and the nation’s future seems an insurmountable thing to think, hope, or pray about.
So if you feel small, well, maybe that’s a good thing.
You are small. So was David. So was David’s army. So was Gideon. So was Daniel. And dear mama, so was Esther.
You are small, but you are not helpless! You are a child of the Most High God. You are an heir to his throne. You are a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. You are God’s people.
You are small, but you are not unseen! You are like a little toddler who is precious to the Father who hears your prayers. You have been granted direct access by the blood of the Lamb to the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Prince of Peace, the Mighty God, the Righteous Judge.
As Grandpa would say, “God is still on the throne and prayer changes things!”
While God Himself is Unchangeable in character, He will change His mind on behalf of the cries of his children. His wrath is overcome by mercy over and over.
While God is Just, He chooses mercy. It is His Mercy that triumphs over judgment.
While God is Sovereign, He still hears His people. Let us not be deceived and use God’s sovereignty as an excuse for our apathy to intercede.
Believers, we are His people. And the Lord has given us a great and profound promise over our homeland.
You have probably read this before, but hear it anew for the first time—
If my people, those called by My Name, will
(He’s not asking all Americans. He’s asking all Believers. You and I.),
humble themselves, and
(to humble means to bend the knee, to make yourself low)
pray, and
seek my face, and
turn from their wicked ways
(ask God, thank God, praise Him, repent)
THEN I WILL
(a promise from God Almighty)
hear from heaven,
forgive their sins, and
heal their land.
-2 Chronicles 7:14-
Please, my sister, please, my brother—
Resist that strong spirit of hopelessness and apathy. Your prayers DO make a difference.
We need revival! We need the Lord’s healing in our country. Even non-Christians can see that. We need to hold on to Hope, so that we have some to offer those who are lost. Hope in the person of Jesus Christ. If not for our sake, then for the sake of our children and grandchildren.
And the Lord (who loves to give good gifts to His children) longs for His kiddoes to strengthen their muscles of faith, participate with Him in prayer, and simply ask.
He is good. He is listening. Feel like it or not, He hears our prayers.
I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy.”
-Psalm 116:1-
Maybe the first step is just some basic honesty… Would you like to join me?
Father God, here’s where I am at with praying for our country. I don’t know how to pray. I feel too overwhelmed to pray. I don’t even know that I want to pray. And I don’t even know if it would matter.
Please meet me where I am. Please break down my hopelessness and my apathy toward prayer for this country.
Increase my faith to know that you hear me. Increase my faith to know that you are for me …and for my children …and for your people. Increase my faith to know that you desire to show mercy to me and to my country. Increase my faith to believe and hope for healing in this place.
Give me a desire to pray for this nation, on behalf of my children too. I feel stuck, so please, Good Father, meet me where I am.
Have mercy on us, Oh God.
In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.
More to come. Til then, be of good Hope.