Roar!

Hosea 11: 10 (Amplified) - They will walk after the LORD [in obedience and worship], Who will roar like a lion; He will roar [summoning them] And His sons will come trembling from the west.

I’m at a loss and I don’t know what to do. That is the thought that continues in my brain from day to day, week to week and month to month over this past year. There is a continued feeling of fear and anger pulsing through my spirit each day, and it has led me to a place of exhaustion. The enemy has unleashed an onslaught against my soul to the point I figuratively picture myself cowering in the corner like a whipped dog, scared to make a move or a sound in case some other onslaught may befall me. I know it’s not just me. This onslaught has been unleashed on the world, but especially this great nation that I love. We have been conditioned, however, over the past few years or decade that we aren’t meant to fight back, to stand up in the courage and strength that is our inheritance as children of God.

We were NEVER meant to live cowering in the corner. As God’s children, we were meant to live out loud, strong, proud, and courageous. The enemy’s schemes are causing us to forget who we are and who lives within us. I believe that as American Christians we’ve had it way, way too easy. We are being suppressed and pushed aside and told to sit down, shut up, and do not dare speak God’s truth in case we may offend. There must be a line in the sand that we draw where we say, “No!” God’s spirit calls out to us when we are pushed too far. As the scripture above tells us, He is summoning us. He is roaring on the inside as the Newsboy’s song “God's Not Dead (Like a Lion)” says to us.

Let me clarify this conversation. I do not and will never condone or propagate fighting back physically. That is not biblical or what Christ taught His followers. Nor do I believe that spewing hatred at those who are trying to suppress us is the answer. What is the answer? Drawing close to God and allowing His spirit to pour out of us. When we are connected with God, truly connected, every moment of every day, His spirit has no choice but to pour out of us. When His spirit is pouring out of us, we cannot help but talk about who He is and what He has done for us. That is the roaring I believe the bible talks about. His spirit will so overwhelm us that it roars from the inside and has to come out.

“BUT IT’S UNFAIR,” our minds cry out every time we read an article about our beliefs being squashed, silenced, and now even talk of needing to be “reprogrammed”. Our American, freedom- loving nature is incensed that one group can do whatever they want to another group in this country without repercussions. It’s an overwhelming feeling of helplessness. But where does our help come from? Does it come from our government elected officials? NO! Our help comes from the Lord. I think we have gotten so comfortable with our freedom of religion that we think we will never, ever have to suffer the consequences when it disappears. It has been disappearing for years! We are just now waking up to realize it’s almost gone. We are now on the enemies list and are seeing the full-on hate that the world has for God’s people. Believers in China, Afghanistan, Iran, numerous countries in Africa have been suffering through this for decades. Now it is on American soil and we cannot think we are above and beyond the reach of this hatred. Our hope is in the Lord. Our hope is in His unfailing love. When everything around us crashes and burns, God’s love will endure.

It is beyond time that we humble ourselves and repent over what we have allowed to happen in this country. Our laziness, selfishness, lack of prayer, and obedience is part of the cause of this current state of affairs. Yes, it’s overwhelming, depressing, and anxiety filled. But hiding in the corner as that whipped dog will not overcome anything. It’s time, dear family, that we get out of the corner and on our knees praying and fasting, begging God for His forgiveness and seeing how our Great and Might God will Roar for His children when they come to Him trembling.