Friday, January 20th, 2017.
That morning you were doing one of two things: watching the Presidential Inauguration or not watching it.
As for my family, we sat around our TV and watched history being made. It was the first inauguration that I was actually interested in seeing. I don’t have a taste for politics in general, but I’m finally at an age where I can appreciate a new President being sworn in without thinking of it as an incredible bore.
With all of the negativity going around lately, I’d like to challenge you to a new way of approaching this change in our country.
President Donald Trump is a flawed human being just as all our presidents have been in the past. And just as it’s been whenever a new leader comes into office, the country can go in many directions whether for good or bad.
Our new President is more capable than we or the media give him credit, and we have no idea of the potential good he can do for the American people. But a hashtag claiming that he’s not our president does not change the fact that he actually is (unless you get citizenship in another country).
Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.
Romans 13:1 (NLT)
I know that Trump paints himself in less than a good light. I don’t care for some of the things he’s said or done, but I want to choose to look at the Higher power in control. At the inauguration, prayers were read that our new President gain the wisdom of Solomon. The book of James tells us that if we lack wisdom and ask God for it, He will certainly give it.
I want nothing but the wisdom of God to work in and through Trump during his presidency, and I don’t want to hinder that by adding to the voices of hate. I understand where the disdain is coming from, I really do, but we can’t say “Love Trumps Hate” if we do the exact thing to Trump what we claim he does to the American people.
In order to fulfill the law of God according to Romans 13:8, we must love our neighbor. That includes a President who is dedicating four years or more of his life to serve this country. That includes the person who says unsavory things and has plans that you might not agree with.
We’re not better than him if we choose to hate him rather than love him. And by love, it doesn’t mean go nuts and pretend like he’s the best person in the world.
It means to constantly pray for him. It means to refrain from lashing out at him through social media. It means to speak in kindness towards him and hope that God’s will be done through him.
We do not love him because he deserves our love, but because that’s what Jesus’ unconditional love requires of us.
Donald Trump is our President. But we are still the people. And this is still America.
He is not our last hope nor is he the end of hope. Hope is God, and He should always be the one we look to to better this country, no matter who’s in office.
As we’re still very much a part of the next four years, I challenge you to ask God for the wisdom to guide you, and give you the heart to love someone who may be difficult to love.
God bless you and God bless America!
-LJM
Click the link for an insightful poem by J.ournal! You Didn’t Vote For TRUMP – Or Did You?
Leah Jordan Meahl 