Last night, as I watched the results pour in from the 2008 election, I was stunned.  Not that McCain was obviously losing, but that so many people were chosing a candidate who went against so many of my personal beliefs.  Was I alone?  I sat in silence (which doesn't happen often at our house) and wondered how our country had wandered so far away from the belief system on which it was built.  Beliefs that are at their core, good things.  Moral things.  Things built upon the laws of God.

I went to bed despondent and wondering if God was turning His back on us after all the many times we have gone against Him in this country.  If he was "turning His face against us" as the Psalmist says?

I tossed and turned all night.  I awoke more than once by the cheers and screams of victory of Obama supporters as my husband continued to watch in the other room.  I felt hopeless. I felt isolated.  And I felt very far from God.

This morning I prayed as I got ready, drove my children to school, and then home to work.  I listened to the radio hoping to be inspired.  I looked through the clouds overhead hoping for a glimmer of something.  Hoping for some sign of well, hope.

When I got to my desk I reluctantly checked my email knowing that there would be many comments on the various loops I subscribe to that I wouldn't want to read.  But of course, I was compelled to. 

There were many elated comments.  There were equally as many deflated.  There were comments about racism.  There were comments about gender bias.  Many angered me.  Several made me profoundly sad.  None made me feel any better.  But, I began to realize that if nothing else, this election motivated.  Motivated many of us who have sat back for too long watching from the sideline.

Slowly... a glimmer flitted across my mind.  One word kept coming to the forefront: trust. Trust.

A new energy began to build in me as I tried to look at it from someone who is called to trust God with everything.  And I thought: maybe this is as it should be.  Maybe the very best thing that could happen to a follower at this point in our history is to be shaken to the core.  To be slapped with the reality of what is truly at stake before us.  And to see that we can't continue to glide by hoping that "someone else" will stand up for our beliefs.  For God's commands.

In the next four years, beliefs that Christians hold deepest in their hearts will be challenged under this president.  The right to life.  The protection of marriage.  Freedom of speech.  Freedom of beliefs.  And we are ALL on call.  Not just the leaders of our communities or nation.  It is under our watch this time.  And we must stand and act.

It reminded me of David as he positioned himself to stand up against Goliath.

"I can't go in these," David protested.  "I'm not use to them" he said as he turned away the offer of solidiers armor that he was not accustomed to. 

Like David, we may not be accustomed to the methods of battle that will be used against us.  But it shouldn't keep us from getting in the fight.  We must face our giants as he did.  Not by meandering around in the hopes that someone else might get to them first.  But by rushing to them!  Just as when Goliath moved into attack, David quickly ran out to greet him!  Quickly! Wholeheartedly.  Shouting with confidence that he came "in the name of the Lord- the God whom you have defied".

He didn't let the taunts of Goliath stop him.  He didn't let the rumors of failure stop him.  He didn't even allow his own family to stop him as his brother tried to send him home.

No!  He rushed to greet him!  Even as Goliath taunted "Why are you coming to fight?  I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul."

We are only the servants of God.  We are ONLY the servants of God.  We are only the servants of GOD.

SERVE him with honor.  SERVE him with joy.  Rush to greet what is coming before us. 

In David's day as it is in ours:  "This is the Lord's battle, and He will give you to us!"

God will prevail.  We must stand with confidence as His own knowing that if we show up to the battle in His name, He will be there to fight with us. 

We will have to do that.  We will have to take a stand.  We will be forced to face the giant moral questions being posed by our nation.  Rush to greet what is coming before us.  Be ready.  And trust.  Trust.