I don’t know about you but I sometimes find myself feeling super anxious with our current political climate. It seems there is so much hate and distrust and unwillingness to forgive. Pointing fingers and blaming others for whatever is happening that we don’t like seems to be the anthem for our day and frankly, it is terrifying.
As I was doing my bible study this morning I read Psalm 11 and was greeted with a breath of hope:

1 “I trust in the Lord for protection. So why do you say to me, “Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety! 2 The wicked are stringing their bows and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings. They shoot from the shadows at those whose hearts are right. 3 The foundations of law and order have collapsed. What can the righteous do?” 4 But the Lord is in his holy Temple; the Lord still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth. 5 The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked. He hates those who love violence. 6 He will rain down blazing coals and burning sulfur on the wicked, punishing them with scorching winds. 7 For the righteous Lord loves justice. The virtuous will see his face.”
‭‭(Psalm 11:1-7‬)

When I read verses 1-3, my thought was, “That could have been written this morning”! Then I read verse four. Praise God for verse four! “BUT the Lord is in His holy Temple; the Lord STILL rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth.”(emphasis mine). These words gave me pause for two reasons: 1) I have to step back, calm down, and realize God is GOD no matter what. Period. Neither time nor people can change that. And 2) I need to remember that He is watching ME as well as all of those I think are wrong because the writer goes on to say that the Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked.

Now, after 48 years of life on this planet it has become blatantly obvious to me that “no one is righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10) and that includes me. But before I could plummet into fear and despair over this fact, I was gently and immediately reminded that “Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.”
‭‭(Romans‬ ‭10:4‬)

That means that while I am far from perfect, God sees me as righteous because of Jesus and my faith in Him.

Imagine my relief!

This was all very comforting to me as I ended my time this morning with a simple but not easy prayer, “Lord, shut my mouth and open my heart to Your understanding.” I don’t need to argue, fuss or fight. God is on His throne and He still rules from heaven. He knows best and I don’t. He wants me to love Him more than my own ways or opinions and let Him lead.
He’ll take care of the rest.