Proverbs 21:1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD;
he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.

This is a very important promise that we often fail to remember. The Bible records several instances of God using rulers who didn’t acknowledge Him at all, such as Cyrus, to accomplish His purposes. (2 Chronicles 36:22) That doesn’t eliminate human free will, and the responsibility that goes with it, and it doesn’t eliminate the right and responsibility of Christians to participate in the democratic process, in countries that have such, but it should eliminate a lot of the panic we tend to have about politics. History is loaded with bad leaders of all sorts, but this verse points out that God is still God, regardless of who the leader is and what he is doing. Right now America is in a fine mess because of ungodly leadership, and Japan is in danger of a constitutional revision that would eliminate freedom of religion and conscience. (Do we see a trend here?) Those things notwithstanding, God is still God! Trials cleanse and strengthen the true Church. (1 Peter 4:17) God allows things that we would not choose, because He can use them for ultimate good that far outweighs any suffering. (2 Corinthians 4:17) The important thing for Christians is to keep trust­ing God and making use of the opportunities He provides to share the good news of His kingdom, in contrast to the political systems we see around us.

I could have benefited from reading this verse a year ago! I have done my share of hand wringing, and it has only been emotionally exhausting. That’s not to say that I’m not to speak out against ungodly things, either where I have citizenship or where I live, but it is to say that I must never forget that God is God. As He pointed out to me personally several years ago, there is a lot in the world today that God is not happy about, but He knows where it’s all headed, and I need to trust Him with that. I am to submit my will to His, so that His will may be done in and through me. The earth was given to mankind in the Garden of Eden, which means every human being has a measure of authority and responsibility. I need to exercise whatever degree of authority I have so that God’s Name may be hallowed, His kingdom come, and His will be done, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the strong Word of encouragement in the meeting yesterday to move out in obedience to You. Help me not be a passive pew warmer, but rather a responsive, obedient son and servant, so that Your will may indeed be done in and through me, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!