Ty Terri, I needed this, I don’t like what I see coming down the pipe and yet I look at examples that you gave and I have looked at them before you even wrote this article that God has always provided for his people no matter the circumstance. Maybe this is just the time that I and we need our hearts cleansed and need to get serious about our walk with the Lord. The Lord has a plan. I am uneasy about the future, and yet excited as we see our redemption drawing nigh. God bless

Thank you, Teri, for you honest words of encouragement today. I’ve read your blog post a couple of times to absorb your heart in the whole matter. It has been a bitter pill to swallow to see someone enter the White House without earning it – even cheating to get there. I, too, prayed fervently that God would allow us 4 more years of moving to the right for many reasons including spiritual ones. About midway through this terrible two month period it felt like my prayer was like the rally chant “Four More Years” and I even apologized in my prayer for sounding like that. After that day I began to get convicted that God’s purpose is to draw people unto Himself and that I would have to accept that His answer to my prayer might be “No”. My comforts in wanting me and my family and fellow citizens to live in a free and capitalist government are immaterial in the matter and I really had to wake up to that. I don’t necessarily agree with Jeremiah Johnson in that it was Trump’s pride or the church’s pedestal that caused God to make this decision. That is only for God to know. What encourages me today about your post is your many experiences serving God in a variety of places among those who don’t have the privileges that we have enjoyed. You have affirmed what I was scared to realize at the the thought of the hard left turn we are about to take. God is with us and as my daughter said as we were texting about this – God is way greater that American politics. Thank you for caring for us enough to write a blog. I truly benefit from it.

Hello Teri, I wrote earlier and somehow my post didn’t post. I have read your blog post several times and just wanted to say thank you for it. I really was trying to understand your heart in the whole thing and I completely relate to your convictions about what would happen as the final outcome. That good would win over evil. I don’t really think you need to apologize as we have all been going through the same thing. About halfway through this terrible two month process I was diligently praying for the outcome to be what we wanted. I wanted to have four more years moving to the right to protect the freedoms and liberties we have enjoyed and many other reasons. But I could almost hear myself at a rally shouting “four more years” during my prayers and later on that day the conviction and realization began to dawn on me that His answer may be “no”. I began to think about how His purpose is to draw all people unto Himself. One thing I’ve learned from you and have shared it often is that in America it’s much harder to be a Christian because of our wealthy status. The other places where you have ministered have such a different reality and their faith really is a daily walk that the Lord will provide for them. It occurred to me that while I want me and my family to live in a free society, that may not be His will and my comforts are beside the point. I don’t necessarily agree with Rev. Johnson that Trumps arrogance or the church’s pedestal is the reason he wasn’t reelected – only God knows the reason. I have grown tired of being accused by some some evangelicals of idol worshiping Trump when they themselves glory in the cheering crowds. I haven’t done that – nor have most Christians that support Trump. Those are the ones that I’d like to hear apologize. But as for this blog post let me say that I feel encouraged by the testimony of your experiences in oppressed countries and how you have witnessed God’s faithfulness firsthand. Thank you again.

Let’s leave both comments up as you have a few details in one that aren’t in the other and even though there is a bit of repeat, it doesn’t matter – it’s good stuff. Thanks for this! You are a blessing. Is your name really Carrie Bradshaw? 🙂 Asking for a friend.

You are always so kind to me Greg. Your words always encourage me and give me “witness.” Can I get a witness? Thank you Greg. Come quickly Lord Jesus.

Thank you, Teri. This is the kind of encouragement we need as we face the next 4 years. It is very disappointing that we didn’t receive the answer we expected to receive. However, we know that God has a plan, and He will work His plan. I expect Him to work in ways that I cannot imagine.

Teri, God has truly blessed you with the gift of being able to comfort, inspire and encourage others through your words and knowledge…and you use them well.

For those Americans who’ve never been outside of the US; this time in our history will difficult, to say the least. For those of us (like you) who have either traveled, or better yet, been born in and/or lived in other countries, I for one, would always praise God, every time I came home to this blessed land of ours. Because I knew He had given the world a great nation to do great works to bring Him glory, but we, His church, failed Him, in my opinion.

It pained me to see that no matter how much the alarm was being rung…just like the preaching of the gospel…there were so many who didn’t want to or care to believe in the promise. My heart breaks for the loss of such gifts, like freedom, that our Lord entrusted to us – now being discarded like yesterday’s newspaper – and we’re just propping open the trash care, metaphorically speaking. But not our will, but yours be done, Heavenly Father.

I truly hope that this “change” bring more “souls of the lost” to our God and that I, like many of you, will be able to have the strength, boldness and courage to answer God’s call to help our brothers and sisters in Christ at our most difficult and trying moments. I pray that we always remember that our God is faithful…and believe it in our hearts, no matter what.

Thanks again, Teri for your lovely words of honesty, encouragement and hope. God bless you and yours always.