I MOURN YET LIVE IN HOPE

My heart is so heavy with the thought of an ungodly man in the place of leadership of our country once again. I mourn for the disaster that is coming on our country and for the loss and suffering which our children and grandchildren will face because of this election, for the murder of unborn millions and perhaps the forced deaths of many of us as we age.

Perhaps God is using him to chastise and humble our nation and through the coming four years to cause people's hearts to be open once again to Him. I don't know what God's plan is for us, but I believe he is still in charge of our world. Still I mourn for the loss of the things and freedoms we had when growing up, which our children and grandchildren may never now experience. I mourn for those who will go hungry and be cold and continue to loose their homes and jobs. I mourn for those who are now and will be forced to live by the grace of government programs, because they cannot support themselves or care for their families.

I know that it is hard not to loose heart at times like this, but having our hope centered on something greater and more lasting is what gives us the ability to continue on in this world.

Paul's words in Romans 8:35-39 reminds us of the hope we have in Christ.

"35  Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?

36  (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”)

37  No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

38  And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

39  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (NLT)

Russ Lawson