As I write this, Donald Trump has just been announced as the new president of the United States of America and it feels like whole world is in uproar. Whether it be in celebration or devastation, both camps are just about as noisy and bold as each other.
For me, I'm not totally sure where I stand.
Hate thinking
Yes, I know Trump seems to have gone above and beyond in the category of, 'did he really just say that?!' Watching the aftermath of the election, there is a lot of hate coming from every direction, to pretty much every sort of person. People are blaming Trump for that, but personally I think the hate was already there and for some reason this monumental change has made people think it's okay to start making choices fueled by it.
Trump is not to blame for that. This event has just brought to the light the underlying biases and racist thinking that was already in society. Now is the time to pray for the end of those completely unacceptable behaviours and thinking patterns as they are brought to light.
Political correctness
Trump is not one to concentrate on being politically correct. Which, sometimes, can lead to a lot of commentary that really isn't helpful. But, in some ways I believe it's an important change for society. Society these days is so concentrated on what is and isn't okay to say, but not really all that aware of what people REALLY think.
Maybe it's time to start saying what we think, opening discussion and letting the truth out. Some of it will be ugly, yes. However, the only way to start changing mindsets is to break the stigma of them and talk about it. The nitty gritty of right and wrong. Trump being elected has been the catalyst for discussion, debate and re-thinking of what people personally believe. It's messy, but it's important.
God is still Lord of all
My comfort through all the chaos, anger and mess is that Jesus is still God and King, Lord of all and the One who holds the whole world in His hands. Many prophetic people around the world today felt that Trump would win, and that he will be used by God, and to the surprise of pretty much everyone... he did win.
Now the question is: can such a bold, seemingly harsh and blatant man be used by God? A God of love? I guess we shall see. God is the God of the impossible.
As I drove home from work today, listening to the radio regarding the election results, and contemplating what on earth America is going to look like now, a phrase cut through to my heart.
'I am shaking everything that can be shaken.'
From the indescribable peace that came with the phrase, I could tell it was the Holy Spirit speaking to me about what was going on. Yes, Trump is pretty much the last person we would have expected to be President of the United States in 2016.
But what if that's God's plan? To shake the processes and strategies of politics, society and culture and remind us all that He alone is our strong fortress, our safety and the person that we can rely on 24/7. We have become so familiar with relying on media, celebrities and every medium of social media to show us how the world looks.
But, in this case, all of them were wrong. To me, it felt like every single outlet of mainstream media was backing Clinton, all the way, with total confidence and complete disregard for the other party. And yet, here we are, watching Trump take the stage as President. Did not see that one coming.
Wake up call
Maybe this should wake us up to realise that mainstream media in all its varying forms does not have all the answers, nor should we expect it to. To rely on ANY other outlets, other than the Holy Spirit, to guide our opinions and worldview is just completely naive.
In no way am I saying that God is 100% approving Trump. There are absolutely things about Trump that do not line up with God's incredible and tender character. But I do believe that God is in control. He knows what's happening and He has a plan. And, if that plan involves Trump, then I am going to be watching with open eyes and listening with open ears for what the Holy Spirit is trying to show the world through this.
Caitlyn Furler is a lover of writing, music and people. She is a recent graduate of high school in Australia and works full time as an assistant in a law firm. She is a worship leader in her church and is enjoying the possibilities and mystery of not knowing what she wants to do 'when she grows up'.
Caitlyn Furler's previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/caitlyn-furler.html