Donald Trump represents those that I’ve seen as my enemy: A successful white man whose primary concern is to win at all costs!
It has been men like him who have exploited the poor and weak, who misuse and abuse women, who brutalized and stole from the Native peoples of America, and who enslaved and dehumanized my ancestors in order to maximize their profit. These are the kind of people who have been a threat to my very existence. Not that they are thinking and plotting against me or people like me in any particular way. I do not matter to them. I am just a pawn to be manipulated or a fly to be squashed.
And yet even as I consider my dislike and even fear of these men, I am reminded by the Holy Spirit that HE LOVES THEM, just as much as he loves me. He treasures them, just as much as he treasures the sweet, gentle, kind and patient mother who cares for her infant.
I am reminded that these men are human beings, just like me. No more. No less.
Donald Trump in his loud arrogance, in his brash behavior, and his “win-at-all-costs” attitude, is a man who bears the image of God. He is one whom Jesus went to the cross for. The Father knew that he, and those like him would perish in their sins without a savior.
Perfect Love casts out fear.
How can I love a neighbor like Donald Trump?
The one who may not be aware of my existence on this earth, unless I can be used to advance his agenda.
How can I stop feeling contempt for men like him?
How can I stop being afraid of men like him?
First, I must be deeply rooted in the lavish love of God. I must know that I am a precious treasure of the THE MOST HIGH GOD. I must know that the Supreme Ruler of the Universe knows me by name. That he knows the number of hairs on my head. That he collects my tears because they are precious to Him. He hears my cries and comes near to me in my time of need. The King over all Kings isn’t like most successful men. He doesn’t “win at all costs”. He will not harm me. He will not abandon me. He will only give me his very best.
Knowing that I am loved with such a lavish and never ending love, makes it possible for me to love the Donald Trumps of the world. The power of the living God enables me to be more patient with their unwillingness to listen, and to pray for them.
I CANNOT do this on my own, and if I’m honest,sometimes I don’t even want to love these men. But the Love of God will not allow me to hate nor live in fear.
Oh Lord, fill me with your love so that my fear and contempt is replaced with your love. I want to do more than just respect the office of the President, or whatever other positions these men hold. I want to have compassion and genuine concern for these men. So Lord, help me to see their struggles and pain. Show me their insecurities. Show me how I can love men like these, for they are desperately needy just like the rest of us. Their strength is actually a weakness, and my weakness is my strength. Heavenly Father, position them to receive the abundance of your grace, for your grace will fully satisfy the emptiness of their souls. Amen.
I share these personal struggles with you because I need your prayers. Please pray for my heart and many others who have this same struggle. I also share these biases with you, because bringing sin out into the light frees me from the power of sin. Lastly, I share these biases with you, so that you too will allow the Holy Spirit to show you your own personal biases, so that you too might admit the truth, and be healed.
Leave a Reply