The need verse the want
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB
By Bobby R. Henry, Sr.
As this election season draws to a close, let us be mindful that we have no control really of the outcome of these elections, and not because “they are rigged”. This was evident when we officially elected our first Black president.
No one, not even the Pope himself or anyone else of importance under God’s green earth, ever thought that we would have a Black president in this the United States of America.
Nevertheless, by the infinite wisdom of God Almighty- He made it happen.
Now we find ourselves in similar troubled waters with storms of more hatred on the horizon as we are being tossed and tumbled like a small ship on the great seas in a mighty storm.
We have weathered many storms before and have been able to endure and overcome insurmountable odds only because we placed our trust and hope in God.
There were those who vehemently opposed the election of the country’s first Black President, Barack Husain Obama. Some went as far as to say that he was not even born in this country. They would rather die and go to the grave believing in their own selfish reasons that only white men could run this country, but for the betterment of all he was elected.
Let us come together as people from all across this wonderful country with varying degrees of differences and remove any selfishness that we have towards each other so we can work together for the betterment of all. Let us look at the greater need for all as opposed to the single needs of our selfish selves.
“ If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
Let’s ask our Heavenly Father for what we need and not what we want. I believe that the needs of all is better served when I allow my wants to become secondary.
If we need a person who can respect the difference in all people; if we need someone who’s willing to open our borders to those who have been abused; if we need someone who has knowledge of nuclear power and the temperament to control the use there of; if we need someone who has the experience of being in a leadership role of governing a country; if we need someone who’s willing to change when they knew they have made a mistake; if we need someone who would not use their power to force themselves on unwilling participants, let us ask God for what we need and not what we want.
Perhaps some of us may want our leaders to be bullies. Some of us may want an inexperience person in control of our nuclear weapons. Some of us may want a leader who puts others down to make themselves look big. Some may even want our leaders to make fun of people with disabilities and have a narcissist disposition about themselves. It is when we allow our wants to override our needs for selfish reasons that we find ourselves lost and stranded on an island just like Gillian with a Mr. Potato Head directed by Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
If we were to be brutally honest and truthfully fourth right, we would all believe that we should get what we need and not what we want. So I’m asking all of us as Americans to pray and to ask God to give us the leadership that we need and not the leadership that we want.
“Dear God it is by your wisdom, knowledge and creation of understanding that we submit our will to Your directions for our greater good which is meant to serve You.”
GOD MAKES NO MISTAKES IN HIS APPOINTMENTS
