Well Obama and his Progressive-Humanistic agenda have another 4 years in which to usher in their vision for transforming America via domestic policy, regulations, executive orders, funding, new laws, taxation, foreign policy, and SCOTUS appointments. Those of us who are opposed to that philosophy have every right to the human emotions of feeling upset, abandoned, unheard, and angry. We see our country, the wonderful USA, sliding away from our founding principles toward a European style of society with its host of many problems and cancers...and it makes us either sick, enraged or discouraged (or all three at the same time!). From a human perspective, there seems to be little hope of righting the sinking ship.

But I am here to encourage all of us to realize that there is indeed hope. Hope that is eternal and unwavering, not dependent on our circumstances or emotions (which are always fluid and always change).

Philippians 4: 4-13 tells us of Paul's example of contentment

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.


Paul did not put his faith, trust, peace or contentment in his circumstances....he put them in Jesus Christ and in the Truth the Scriptures reveal about the nature of and the promises of God.

Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.


In the aftermath of the election, in the coming gloom and doom of our nation we will have choices. We can have a spirit of turmoil or we can have a spirit of contentment because of a certain promises that God made to us:

John 3:16-21 And Jesus said
16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

Romans 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Ephesians 2:4-10
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.


We can find solace and contentment in Jesus, if we dare to submit to Him, dare to trust Him, dare to seek Him out and pray. The world does not have the True answers to this life question...how can I be content in my circumstances?

Again, Philippians 4:6-8

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.


May God bless and keep you and your families!

I didn't read all of your post straycat but contentment comes from not living in a state of fear as so many in today's world do......it's nice to have a source of strength to call on no matter what the circumstances.

If you read all of it, then there is only 1 true source.

Good post straycat.

Agreed

Great post. A lot of us need that kind of encouragement today.

We need to maintain our dignity and focus regardless of the outcome of political races.

I appreciate your post. Wrong version of the Bible though. If you are interested in the changes that are in your version that do not agree with the manuscripts that they were translated from, shoot me an email. You had better consider it based on this...

Revelation 22:18  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

Wrong version? You do realize every English version was translated from the original transcripts, right?

Not to turn this into an argument but if I had to choose which source I trusted based on their daily walk, as I've witnessed it here on this site, Straycat gets my vote, no contest.

To be honest, I'm not sure what version I used above. It was probably the New King James Version though..just checked and yes it was. I use multiple versions (ESV, NASB, NIV, KJV and NKJV) and only versions that are direct translations from the earliest available manuscripts. When I want a more literal translation I used the KJV, NKJV, NASB or ESV. When I want a more meaning-filled direct translation I use the NIV. These 5 versions do vary in language somewhat on NT texts because the Greek Language is very hard to translate into a written English that is easily understood and read. Scholars today as well as in 1526 with the very first English translation by Tyndale, as well as in 1602-1611 with the English version authorized by King James of England....all had issues with how to arrive at an English sentence that matched the Greek. Scholars today have far more manuscripts available, far more resources at their disposal, far more knowledge...so the more modern translations are at least equally as accurate as the early versions.

If you are one of the KJV only elitists, then you can go somewhere else. If you are a "close to original greek text as exists on planet earth" only elitist, then I welcome your input.

Bill thanks for those words, but my walk is a daily stumble and struggle. God has given me an opportunity to share His Word on here, so I hope that Christ is the model and not me the messenger.

SC, I completely agree that the message is infinitely more powerful than the messenger. It is still good to have someone with a heart for God that can bring that message to others. I know you struggle like every man but your testimony leads me to believe you do have a heart for God. I struggle more than most with anger and a vengeful heart but I'm glad you share what's laid on your heart even when it convicts mine.