May I Say Something?

I wasn’t going to post on my blog today. I didn’t know what I’d write the morning after Election Day. Eventually I decided to skip a week, but then when I woke up (after staying up until 2am) and dared to look at social media…I knew I had to say something. And it is this:

If you voted for Trump: I love you.

If you voted for Hillary: I love you.

If you voted third party: I love you.

If you didn’t vote at all: I love you.

There is so much sadness and anger and hatred and meanness and fear going around right now. And I want all of you to know that I dearly love and care for you–even though many of you are expressing views and emotions I disagree with and many of you are expressing feelings and views I do agree with. I am praying for you–even if that sounds Christianese. I really am. I wish I could give everyone a hug. I will rejoice with those who are rejoicing and weep with those who are weeping. But most of all I want to give each of you a message.

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To remind my friends who are afraid:

 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

To remind my friends who are despairing:

“But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side. Psalm 3:2-6

To remind my friends who are angry:

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

 

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

To my friends who are rejoicing:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be obvious to everyone. Philippians 4:4-5

To my friends who are hiding:

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. Psalm 119:114

To my friends who are hopeful:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 1 Peter 1:3-6

 

We have a new president. But we have the same King. (Tweet this) And no matter whether you are rejoicing over the new state of our country or despairing…our Christ knows all and works all things for His glory. And He loves you…even more than I do. Today, I rose hopeful, joyous, wary, nervous, unafraid, and trusting…because I chose to awaken–no matter who was elected–in Christ. Because each of us have a calling in Christ:

“I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
    I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
    to be a covenant for the people
    and a light for the Gentiles,
to open eyes that are blind,
    to free captives from prison
    and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.”

Isaiah 42:6-7

 

May you enter this day hopeful, faithful, and kind. Be shalom to those around you.

? Nadine

 

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About Nadine Brandes

NADINE BRANDES once spent four days as a sea cook in the name of book research. She is the author of the award-winning ROMANOV, FAWKES, and the Out of Time Series. Her inner fangirl perks up at the mention of soul-talk, Quidditch, bookstagram, and Oreos. When she's not busy writing novels about bold living, she's adventuring through Middle Earth or taste-testing a new chai. She and her Auror husband are building a Tiny House on wheels with their Halfling children. Current mission: paint the world in shalom.
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19 Comments

  1. Thank-you, Nadine. A beautiful collection of Scripture to read this morning. <3

    ~Schuyler

  2. What a great post and perspective! God is in control! <3

  3. I LOVE this! It moved me, and was just what I needed to hear this morning after all the tensions leading up to yesterday.

    God is awesome. 🙂

  4. This is probably the best thing I will read all day. You are awesome, Nadine! <3

  5. I love you too!!!!
    I felt the love of Jesus all throughout this post.
    Thank you! 🙂

  6. What a great reminder! Thank you!

  7. What a beautiful post Nadine, I do hope that nothing so terrible happens with all this political turmoil for you Americans but whatever happens, God always has a plan. Come Lord Jesus!

  8. Amen.
    I have never been more sad for our nation’s division. In the end, whether Trump or Clinto won, that leader for was put into power by God. And to those Christians who are so stressed over politics -this is not our home! We have a home and a Father we can run to. Why do we bank all our hopes upon the things of this earth, when they will pass away? Why don’t we trust God and await his coming?
    Thank God He is watching over us -no matter the President.
    Thank God He has a plan for this country -whether good or bad!
    And thank God He gave us His son as atonement so that we don’t have to worry about the things of this earth!
    “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

    Thank God that no matter what happens He holds our hand!

  9. Nadine, this is beautiful. Thank you.

  10. Brianna da Silva

    This is a beautiful response. Thank you for this. I am so disturbed by the hostility and division in our country right now. We need to show more of the love of Jesus, *sigh* because it is needed… and I include myself in this. I’ve been silent and hiding, unsure how to speak. Thank you for setting the right example here. 🙂

I love hearing from you!