2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
James 1:2-3 ESV
Each morning before I post, I spend some time reading msn.com, the Microsoft online news outlet. Today's headlines were replete with posts about the in-coming Trump administration. From an article about Harrison, AR and its bigoted, Trump-supporting residents to a description of the second-tiered acts that performed at the Lincoln Memorial concert, there was nothing positive or encouraging to read. Regardless of your opinion of the media, the President elect, or politics in general, it is apparent our country is in for a long, decisive, possible destructive run. It started the day off on a very somber tone.
After exiting the MSN website, I opened Biblegateway.com, a useful online source for scripture verses. Each day the site posts their "Verse of the Day". Today it was James 1:2-3. These verses were exactly what I needed after the time spent reading national news. Perhaps these two verses should be our country's mantra for the next four years.
Whether you are pro-Trump, anti-Trump, or neutral-Trump, I believe this next chapter in our country's history will be replete with unrest, division, and disunity. Not only will we be put through collective trials, as individuals we will also be tested. Will we view these trials as growth opportunities or as an excuse to withdraw our voices from the public square? News headlines should drive us deeper into scripture not into despair. Our hope is in Christ, not Trump, the Republicans, or Democrats.
Perhaps this will be a season of more scripture and less MSNBC.
*Lester Holt anchors the weekday edition of NBC Nightly News.
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