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When culture’s turmoil and people’s sins surround us, they become a heavy burden on our lives. In those burdened times, the Lord will answer our prayers using anyone or anything to remove the burden. We need to be willing to look beyond our judgments of who and what God uses to see the Lord’s hand is at work.
“Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people!” (Psalm 66:5). Not all of God’s miracles are like the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea. Some of His miracles are released through our natural systems and government institutions.
Opposition to God’s plans will surface in each generation. That opposition will come from those who oppose what God is doing: “For by his great power he rules forever. He watches every movement of the nations; let no rebel rise in defiance” (vs. 7). The Lord has placed His watchful eye over all things, even those He has placed in power to rule our government.
The Lord has been watching the movements of our nation and what He sees has grieved Him. We have been in a time of testing that has helped to see with greater clarity the burdens that have been placed upon us by wayward leaders. The past few years have been a time of testing for God’s people.
“You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver. You captured us in your net and laid the burden of slavery on our backs” (vs. 10). No burden, even the burdens caused by our ignorance and defiance, are powerful enough to hinder the work of the Lord.
“Then you put a leader over us. We went through fire and flood, but you brought us to a place of great abundance” (vs. 11-12). We have come through a season where the atrocities of sin and depravation have surfaced and become great burdens. But the Lord had another destination in mind – deliverance from the weight of our burdens to experience His abundance.
The evidence that God’s redeeming hand is upon us requires new leadership. His choice of leaders can confuse some people. What defines a righteous leader is not human perfection. A leader the Lord will use is someone willing to do what is right despite the judgment and rejection they will face.
The Church has been praying. The transformation will begin in each of us first before a nation is impacted. Our prayers for change are answered following our repentance, “For I cried out to him for help, praising him as I spoke. If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” (vs. 17- 18).
Many of us have been praying and asking the Lord to deliver our nation. All of God’s redeeming work begins first in the house of God. When we humble ourselves, confess our sins, and pray according to God’s will, we will come to realize, “God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer” (vs. 19).
Our answered prayers will not always be accepted by those who continue to reject the new leadership the Lord has put in place. When the plan of God is finally inaugurated, the battle is not over. As the change we hoped for becomes a reality, we need to remain humble and submitted to God allowing Him to examine the condition of our hearts each step of the way toward the reformation He has planned in our personal lives and in our nation.
Garris Elkins
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