“This is the way He governs the nations … 32 He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark. 33 His thunder announces the coming storm…(NIV) Job 36:31-33

When you search what God says about storms in the Scriptures you find 1) He governs through storms, 2) He is the shelter in the midst of the storm, 3) Shockingly, He IS the storm!

God is not surprised at the challenges of this year. He has been behind them. He is not behind the rage and the vitriol that has been the human reaction, but He is setting the context in our nation, through pressings and trials, so that men will grope for Him.

We need to face the truth that neither Donald Trump nor Joe Biden is the savior of America. Jesus and Jesus alone can save, deliver, and heal our nation. Whichever man occupies the office of president (likely Joe Biden as of this publication date), He will have been placed there by God. Romans 13:1 is unambiguous. At the same time each of these options represents incredible challenges the church will face if they are in office.

If somehow through the courts, the election results end up that President Trump is re-elected there is going to be an incredible amount of societal pressure in America, more than most of us have seen in our lifetimes. 

If the election result remains that Joe Biden is the next president of the United States, it will be an equally difficult time, because the policy positions that he holds do not make for liberty for Christian belief. It could be that in a very short period of time that standard Christian beliefs and speech may be construed as hate speech. We may see much more pressure in the form of religious persecution than we’ve ever seen in America.

Either way a storm is coming. Either way there will be incredible pressure arising in society and ultimately against the church. The context of the earth has already shifted in a dramatic way, but it is about to shift again dramatically. We must get above American political partisanship in order to hold fast to the only thing that is secure, Jesus.

How Do We Respond

Our response in light of all this must be like Jesus. 

1. Be humble - This is not the hour to be puffed up with our own opinions.  It’s time to bow low and kiss the Son. It is essential that the Church humble herself before God to invoke His grace. With an open heart we need to ask the Lord to show us where we have thoughts and perspectives that do not align with His. Teach me your ways that I may walk in your truth.

2. Stand firm in our convictions - People are going to disagree with the church’s stand for righteousness and justice, Jesus promised it (Luke 6;22-26). We must not compromise in any area. This means we love what He loves, hate what He hates, and live how He leads - in public and in private. Though the world is growing darker, our first concern should be with ourselves. “If MY PEOPLE…”

3. Stay fastened to Jesus - He is the storm and the shelter from it. While it is challenging, we can have perfect peace while we live through the coming storms. We are promised peace unlike the world experiences. We must stay close to His heart through prayer, fasting, and studying the Word. Abide in Him and He will be your shelter.

4. Continue to believe for breakthrough - Nothing temporal inhibits God from releasing His power and manifesting His will. He is simply looking for a believing bride to partner with Him. Revival is coming, continue to believe.

5. Stay free from offense - The world is filled with outrage, this ought not be the case for believers. We must root out every offense from our hearts so that we can stay alive in love through the storm. Having a free-heart, clean of offense is our portion through every storm of life and all the storms of the end of the age.

The Lord is going to have a beautiful Bride before the end of this age. The Father is infinitely committed to His Son’s glory AND to raising up a Bride that looks just like Jesus.

I want to call you to humility, fasting, prayer, and abiding in His presence and His Word in light of the coming Storm. Fasten to Jesus and Jesus alone and He will uphold and strengthen you in the days ahead.