To Those Who Are Afraid...

Because I'm a millennial, I checked social media shortly after I woke up this morning. I saw one consistent trend....fear. People of all ages, races, denomination, religions, etc. were truly afraid. Scared for their very lives. I get it. I understand it. So because I know how you feel, I want to try & help you today. 

While I was watching the results from the presidential election roll in, I started talking to God. He was literally all I had left. I told God that I was afraid. I was terrified. This doesn't look good, man. More specifically, this doesn't look good for me. What about my safety? The stock markets are crashing all over the place. What about the economy? What about this? What about that? I'd created an image in my head of terror everywhere, so I needed to run to my refuge of peace. Then....He spoke.

He reminded me that He's God in season & out of season. He's got a reputation for creating streams in deserts, and indestructible shelters in war zones. He kept the children of Israel for 40 years (fed them & everything)....so why on Earth would I believe that He can't keep me for 4? He knew this day would come the moment He brought me into this world, so why I may be surprised, a little shaken, and surely scared, He's unbothered, He's not phased, He hasn't moved. He's still in control. 

I also saw something else on my various social media timelines: prayer. I'm a church girl, surrounded by churchy (and not so churchy) people. Yall....I've never seen so much talk of prayer on facebook, twitter, etc. in all of my days. It's almost like a real life 2 Chronicles 7:13-15: "When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, 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 from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place." Now, I'm not saying that God has shut up Heaven, & that we as a nation have screwed up so badly that He doesn't hear us anymore. I am, however, saying that it seems as if this fear has humbled us a bit, and reminded us that we don't have as much control as we thought we did. Our votes matter. Our lives matter....but so does our dependence on God. 

Finally, I want to talk to my realists. All of the people that recognize that God was on the throne in the 60s and the 1600s. The people that are sick of hearing 'God is in control'. I know how you feel too (trust me, suga, I do). My response to that is:....but didn't we make it? Can we not do more now than our ancestors could in the 1600s and the 60s? Can we not go farther (if but a small distance) than those who came before us? Trust me, I'm aware of the issues faced by minorities, but I'm also a believer that while this may be over our heads, it's under His feet. I believe that while God doesn't always make sense in the moment, He lets us in on the purpose later on (the saints of old called it 'by & by'). I encourage you to have your moment. Process the pain. I won't tell you to get over it or to pacify emotions with empty words that your heart doesn't believe. But when you get done, remember to place your hope, faith, & trust in the everlasting, unchanging God. Whether you recognize it or not, He's brought you this far, and I know He doesn't plan on leaving now. 

Background Music: Take Care of You - Fred Hammond

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