It’s Days Like Today . . .
It’s days like today (as I write this on Wednesday Nov. 9, 2016) . . . that make me so happy . . . once I trust God with everything. Seriously, I’ve been so satisfied in my soul today. Totally unexpected. Over the last months of this election campaign, I’ve felt this tension inside me. “What if Trump wins?” “Is he stable?” “What will happen to the economy? Race relations? International affairs?” Then I’d think “What if Hillary wins? Maybe things will at least be stable. Look at how the stock market goes up when it looks like she’s going to win.” Then I think “What would happen if a brand-new President were indicted for something.” Then I say “Nah, I’m just going to be positive. All the polls say she’s going to win, so I go to bed semi-peaceful. Then I wake up at 4:00am, tap the USA Today icon on my iPhone. It reads “President-Elect Trump!” Now I’m back to “what if . . .” “what if . . .” “what if . . .” At 4:05am, I gave up.
Unexpected pleasures come from giving up. From ‘laying it down’ at the feet of Jesus and saying, with a genuine smile, “I trust you Lord.” “I know you love me . . . I know you’ll take care of me, that you’ll never leave nor forsake me. I’m going to rest in that.” Yesterday, I was ‘up on the wheel,’ thinking, analyzing, pondering, trying to avoid conversations with anyone because I didn’t want to talk. What’s the use? The options were the options. Nobody changed. But it was just so hard to resign myself to an outcome, either outcome. I just couldn’t visualize it. Then, once the outcome was totally out of my hands, I relaxed.
For the most part, all outcomes are out of our hands. Sure, we can borrow money we can’t pay back, steal things or cheat on our wives . . . none of those end well. When we do stuff like that, we’re bringing it on ourselves. But in the big picture, when it comes to the affairs of nations, to our personal health, to the success of our investments, most of those things are beyond our control. You ask “Where’s God in this election deal?” You can bet He’s involved, but God’s hand in the affairs of men is usually seen retrospectively. Years later, when we pause for perspective and start to press meaning into the events we experienced, we see how God used the people and events of the day to bring glory to Himself. And we’re only seeing pieces from Planet Earth. In the ‘sweet by and by,’ maybe He’ll let us see the whole tapestry, the whole story He was writing.
Once, Jesus encountered a Roman centurion who wanted to ask Him something. He drew a parallel between himself and Jesus, saying “For I myself am a man under authority,” (Matthew 8:9) Jesus, the centurion, you, me . . . everyone who walks on this earth is under authority. The question is “Can we relax into that Authority?” “Can we ‘lay it down’ and trust God?”
That’s how I have soul satisfying days like today. I only wish I would catch on quicker.
Scripture: God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne. (Psalm 47:8)
Mentor Tip: Just like Radical Mentoring groups aren’t about theology, neither are they about politics. Don’t go there and don’t let your guys go there. Never.
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Responses (4)
Hi Regi,
I am a woman, but I started following your blog and subscribed to your email newsletters after hearing about you through Michael Hyatt’s blog. I know your audience is mainly men of God, but I just wanted to let you know that your material is edifying to women as well 🙂 I kind of wish there was a mentoring group like this for women. Anyways, thank you always for your uplifting blog posts. They always encourage me and give me food for thought. Have a nice day!
Hi Sarah!
Thanks for reading and commenting. Glad you enjoy the posts and find them edifying! Good news! We have a sister ministry called Titus2 Mentoring For Women (titus2mentoringwomen.com) that has a similar mentoring model but directed at and speaking to women. Check them out!
Thanks,
Jackson
Radical Mentoring Team
Regi, thanks for this post. I agree that we need to focus on God being in control as we try to unite as a country behind our new president. However, I’m still puzzled as to why we’re so divided within body of believers when it comes to politics. Any thoughts?
I am glad that our God has the ultimate control over
everything. He is Master, Lord, and King over all. He sets up whom He wills, and puts down whom He wills in terms of those in authority. M y hope is in Him not in any leader.