God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne. -Psalm 47:8, NASB

Today I need to remind myself that God is on His throne because there is a pit in my stomach and an ache in my heart.

I have never been so scared for my country. Our enemies increase in both number and viciousness. Our freedom decreases daily from within. Our military is the smallest and weakest it has been in decades.  Sky rocketing insurance costs crushes almost everyone I know. Our country stands at a crossroads.

And we have a demagogue and a socialist as serious contenders.

Is this what comes from not teaching actual history in school? Ideas matter and they have consequences. History offers many examples of charismatic leaders with flawed character. Eventually the rhetoric runs out and the flaws take the forefront. Then a nation realizes that, like Esau, they have traded their inheritance for the proverbial crust of bread.

Take another Bible story- the selection of Saul as king. Israel wasn't supposed to have a king besides God. But they decided they wanted to be like every other nation (you know, the ones with oppressive taxes and flawed leaders.)

What a sad day when God gave them exactly what they asked for.

I Samuel 8 holds the story. Samuel the Prophet warns of the loss of freedom, cost to the family, and financial drain that having a king will require, "Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel and they said, 'No, but there shall be a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations.'" (I Sam. 8:19-20)

Israel got King Saul, a man who looked good in a crown but who cowered in his tent when Goliath took the field. He was bombastic, unpredictable, violent, unstable, and destructive. Sound familiar?

So you got what you wanted, Israel. How did that turn out for you?

How about us? Why do we seem to be asking for crazy? My greatest fear today is that we will get exactly what we deserve.

I need to remind myself today, Super Tuesday, that God is in charge.

Repeat that with me: GOD. IS. IN. CHARGE.

The early Roman Christians suffered and multiplied under Nero. Richard Wurmbrand served God faithfully in the pit of Communist prisons with his story becoming inspirational fuel for millions. Corrie ten Boom stood up to evil, hid Jews, and went to a concentration camp only to write a story of God's faithfulness that cannot be denied.

It was Betsy ten Boom who said, "There is no pit so deep, that God is not deeper still."

God still writes His story when there are terrible and even evil leaders.

The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations;He frustrates the plans of the peoples. -Psalm 33:10, NASB

I don't know if God will frustrate the plans of crazy, unthinking people on this most Super of Super Tuesdays. I am asking for His mercy. I am begging that He stay His hand from the judgement we deserve.

But no matter what, He is in charge. He is in it for the long game, not just the next four years. So while I beg for mercy for the United States, I trust that today's outcome, and next November's outcome, will not thwart His work.

Honestly, like Frodo, I wish I did not live in these times. But my job is to be faithful in the time I am given, serve the Lord in whatever circumstances I find myself, and trust in His eternal plan.

For the kingdom is the Lord'sAnd He rules over the nations. -Psalm 22:28, NASB

God is in charge and I can trust in that.