I’m not particularly politically minded. I do believe that as Americans we should all care about and contribute to our blessed country, but I usually like to sit out on political conversations and debates. They’re intimidating, and I like being liked. That being said, I’m also troubled by the mindsets of many of my fellow Christians. I am troubled, particularly, by the question I am asked quite frequently now that I’m leaving the country around the time a new presidential term will be starting: “are you scared of what our country will be like when you come back, if so-and-so wins the election?” And my answer is… no.
I understand that I am leaving the country during a particularly nasty election. I also understand that many Christians, myself included, feel like we don’t have a candidate that reflects our beliefs and priorities. But despite the fact that neither of our top candidates are followers of Jesus, I have a very odd sense of peace about the future of our nation for a few reasons:
- Our God is bigger: Our God is the God who created the universe. That’s kind of a big deal. His plan is not going to be foiled by anyone, not even the president. It’s a humbling concept: we are not powerful. We are subject to an all-powerful God who has already won this war we feel like we’re fighting. It’s time for us to rest in that.
- 2 Corinthians 13:4 – For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.
- Matthew 19:26 – But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
- Fear is not of the Lord: Our job isn’t to fear. Our job is to rest in His power and grace, and to invite others to do the same. Fear distracts us from our mission and it slowly eats at our hearts and places doubt there instead. Satan wants us to fear. He wants us to doubt God. He wants us to believe that our God isn’t big enough to save us from whatever political, financial, physical or spiritual dangers we may face.
- Psalm 34:4 – I sought the Lord, and he answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.
- 1 Peter 5:6-7 – Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
- 2 Timother 1:7 – For the Lord has not given us a spirit if fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
- The root of our country’s sins is not in any law; it’s in our hearts: We are sinners by nature. No laws or decisions made by any earthly authority figure will change that. We all fall short, and God in His grace met us where we were, sinful hearts and all. Making something, that we as followers of Jesus know to be sinful, illegal won’t heal our sinful hearts. So let’s stop being afraid of these laws that may seem harmful, because the sins come from the heart, and there’s only one savior.
- Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
- Genesis 6:5 – Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually
- Psalm 51:5 – Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.
- God doesn’t owe America success: This is a tough one to swallow. I often wonder if God thinks every day “who do these people even think they are?” I daresay, our nation has become a bit entitled on the success front… I’m not excluded from this. The painful reality is that God doesn’t owe us success. No matter how hard we fight and fear, it’s not our right. In fact, our God doesn’t owe us anything. He doesn’t owe us happiness. He doesn’t owe us financial stability. He doesn’t owe us marriage. He doesn’t owe us children. He doesn’t even owe us the freedom we are so blessed to have in this country, and if He were to take it away, who are we to question Him? I believe it’s time we embrace this reality, because there has been a lot of biblical evidence that God, in His goodness, likes to bring people and nations down to rock bottom to lead them back to Him… and I pray that that’s what He does for us if that’s truly what will lead us closer to Christ. Another painful reality is that we Christians may not have the freedom to talk about Jesus publicly much longer without it being called a “hate-crime”. My temptation is to be fearful about this. We, as American Christians, may have to face a different kind of hardship when it comes to evangelism: legal hardship. The question is, will we be the church who grows in that hardship, or the church who withers away and disappears altogether? We wouldn’t be the first nation to face this challenge.
- Job 1:21 – He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
- His ways are not our ways: This is my favorite thing about God… that my misguided, selfish ways are contradictive to His good, all-knowing ways. Of course, I have been foolish enough to believe that I know better than God about how my life and how this world should go. Fortunately, the Lord loves to humble His people in painfully obvious ways. His ways are not our ways, and we should rejoice in that!
- Isaiah 55:8-9 – “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
So, as I leave my beautifully broken country this January, no matter who will be the president when I come home, I refuse to be afraid for our future because I know who I truly answer to. We are his beloved creation, and no human being could ever foil his good plan for us. So, let’s all be psyched and respond in gratitude for what He has done for our country: He has put us in the position to be able to send people to other nations for His glory. Let’s pray for the American people to grow closer to God in His way and in His timing.
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Here are some important dates coming up:
October 18 – I arrive in Georgia for training camp and FINALLY meet my team!!
October 31 – I will be staying with my sisters in Jacksonville for a couple of weeks after training camp and hopefully visiting my brother and sister in LA
December 16 – My $10,000 fundraising deadline… which I’ve PASSED!!
January 7/8 – LAUNCH! I’ll be leaving for India first.
January 24 – I’ll be spending my 23rd birthday in India. Whoa!
February 28 – My $13,000 fundraising deadline. As of today, I am $12,616 in. So close!!
April 30 – FULLY FUNDED DEADLINE!
How can you help?
First and foremost, prayer. This whole thing will be one of the most challenging and scary things I’ve ever done. Just pray that the Lord keeps my squad and me safe, and that He prepares our hearts, minds, and bodies during these months leading to our launch. Also, pray for our fundraising efforts and that people receive us well.
As I’ve mentioned, I have the daunting task of raising $17,017 to cover my living and travel costs while I’m away, and there are several ways to help me in this. You can donate to my trip as a one-time gift or as monthly donations, allowing you to choose the amount and beginning and end date. If you would like to do this, please make checks payable to Adventures in Missions P.O. Box 742570, Atlanta, GA 30374-2570. Make sure to specify that you would like the donation to go to AnnaGrace Mercer or your donation will not be sent to my account. If you would prefer to make a donation online, you may do so by clicking the “Support Me” link on the left side of the page and complete your donation as instructed. Keep in mind, though, that a 5% credit card fee will be taken out of the donation for credit card processing. Also know that these donations are not refundable.
I am selling bracelets for Threads of Hope, and you can get one (or a bunch!) by contacting me on Facebook, through email, or calling or texting me. They’re absolutely gorgeous handmade bracelets, and half of the proceeds go towards helping at risk families in the Philippines.
Another way to help me is, if you’re in need of calligraphy work (hello SNU brides!) I would love to do that for you, as well as any design or photography work you may need. Right now, I am selling calligraphy greeting cards, so if you’re interested, contact me!
Lastly, share this! You can never have too much prayer and support!
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If you have any questions, or just want to talk about my trip with me over coffee, I would love to hear from you! You can call or text me at 832-622-3174, or you can email me at [email protected], or message me on Facebook.
