What to Do When You're Fed Up

     As annoyed, frustrated, angry, irritated, infuriated, exasperated, aggravated, upset, bothered, maddened, dissatisfied, irate, vexed, peeved, incensed, riled up, disappointed, dismayed, distressed, troubled, saddened, disturbed, perturbed, uptight, displeased, disgruntled, discontented, unhappy, fed up, disenchanted, perplexed, depressed, disheartened, distraught, and impatient as people may get about politics, the current situation in Washington puts all those ingredients in a pot and turns the burner on high. As politicians play a high stakes game of chicken to see who blinks first, people all over the country are hurting. People we know are hurting. People all over the political spectrum are affected. To date my personal life hasn’t been too overly impacted, but I feel “it” coming. There’s a sense of… “If things don’t improve… if communication doesn’t open up… if a willingness to serve rather than have power doesn’t prevail… if people in leadership aren’t willing to work together for a common good… then something bad is going to happen. Hopefully it won’t come to that uncertain trouble, whatever “it” could be. In the meantime my future son-in-law has been furloughed, so my daughter is naturally apprehensive about that. People I serve in this church are furloughed and are anxious about their jobs. The tendrils of impact are diverse and long in our families, community, and our church.

      Into all this comes the Word of God, calling me to pray for those in authority. On the one hand, I think they need it so much that it should be a “no-brainer” for me to lift them up to the Lord. On the other hand, I have feelings like they don’t deserve my prayers. Do you see the way pride creeps in on me? Who am I to say someone doesn’t “deserve” prayer? It’s quite void of grace, isn’t it? But God doesn’t limit my prayers like I am inclined to do – wanting to pray for only those I agree with or those who are doing things “right”.

      Our God is the Lord of history. He is not some watchmaker who wound the world up, let it go and then stepped back only to observe and ever be “uninvolved”. God is sovereign over the nations. He uses the affairs of men for His purposes and ultimately for His glory. He may be trusted by those who serve and worship Him. We know that nothing can happen apart from His will, and he makes “all things work together for good” for those who love Him.

So let’s pray… and let’s look for ways to do good and help people in their time of need.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NIV) ¹  I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- ²  for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³  This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ⁴  who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

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

Titus 3:1-3 (NIV) ¹  Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, ²  to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. ³  At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

1 Peter 2:12-17 (NIV) ¹²  Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. ¹³  Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, ¹⁴  or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. ¹⁵  For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. ¹⁶  Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. ¹⁷  Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

Romans 8:28 (NIV) ²⁸  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

PRAYER:  Father, please give wisdom, grace, good judgment, a sound mind, a servant attitude, a cooperative spirit, a willingness to work together, freedom from power’s hold, and humility to our President and to every Senator and Representative. May your will be done in them and through them and may every purpose of yours prevail. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!

Scott