My Heart Is Troubled

The Proverbial Crossroad

Troubled is probably not the precisely correct word, but it’s a start. What I feel stirring in my spirit is a warning of sorts, again, probably not precisely the correct word. As Americans, we are at a crossroad and we're at the deadline for making a decision as to who will lead our country into the future. We will elect one of two very flawed candidates, both of whom are grossly unworthy to sit in the Oval Office. For me, it has been a difficult decision because I love this country and all for which it stands. Precious freedoms. Rich Christian heritage. Divinely inspired Constitution. And the list goes on.

Allow me to be totally transparent about my position and why I’ve made the decision to vote for the Trump/Pence ticket. After studying the platforms of each party and aside from the candidates themselves, I see no possible way to vote to support the Democratic ticket. Even so, this decision hasn’t comforted my troubled heart but the following points help bring clarity to my decision.

• Probably the most profound element in my decision is the protection of the unborn and Trump’s commitment to pursue a pro-life agenda, appoint pro-life justices to the Supreme Court, and move to defund Planned Parenthood. This nation cannot continue to expand the abortion agenda and remove restrictions which mandate that every US citizen support the murder of preborn children through health care and other taxes. A careful review of the DNC platform will bear out the fact that the Democratic ticket includes expanding the abortion agenda and reversal of current laws protecting late term abortions, etc. Clinton has stated that she supports unabated abortion rights and commits to remove restrictions which, among other things, will open the door to legalize inhumane procedures devised to kill children during the third trimester of pregnancy. I simply cannot support any candidate with such disregard toward the sanctity of human life.
• Mr. Trump has committed to appoint Supreme Court justices who will represent conservative values while maintaining constitutional integrity in their adjudication of cases brought before the Court. Clinton, on the other hand, has said she will appoint justices who will promote and expand the liberal agenda; this can only be done by ignoring and misinterpreting the constitutional law and values we hold dear and upon which this nation was built. A liberal Court will have a huge impact on our future generations as so much of what makes this country uniquely blessed would be dismantled and rewritten.
• It is a well-known fact that the Obama administration has undermined the relationship the United States has enjoyed with Israel; this must be repaired. Mr. Trump has promised to strengthen our relationship with Israel and its allies in the Middle East, a critical need when Israel is facing a constant threat by anti-Israel forces.
• Our military is sorely in need of rebuilding and equipping in order to properly protect the citizens of this nation and to support our allies worldwide. Mr. Trump has committed to make this a priority in his administration. When compared to the Clinton approach committing to continue the path taken by the Obama administration, we can easily see a weakened military with a global objective through her administration.
• The freedoms guaranteed us by the Constitution are at risk of being reinterpreted to reflect a more liberal agenda (actually, this has already happened on more than one occasion).  It is my impression that a Trump administration would seek to restore Constitutional freedoms and enforce the rule of law. Whereas, a Clinton administration would further undermine Constitutional law by reinterpreting it to fit with the liberal agenda. This not only impacts our current generation but generations to come.

Rather than go on and on, I see no choice. A vote for a third-party candidate would, in my opinion, be no better than not voting at all. I cannot ignore the cries of the preborn who need us to be their voice. Whether or not Mr. Trump is able to follow through with his promises, none of us can know. It appears, however, that those with whom he has surrounded himself will continue to guide him and encourage him in the direction of a more conservative approach to governance. And, that is my prayer.

So, why is my heart still troubled? It seems that, at least for me, the decision would have been easy based solely on the party platforms. The viciousness displayed by both candidates during their candidacies has been offensive and immature at best. But, even more than that, I’m terribly troubled by the fact that Clinton cannot be trusted. Hers is a history of deception, manipulation and a politics-as-usual approach promoting the elite touch-me-not attitude that divides our nation. Lincoln summarized the intent of our democracy in the Gettysburg address with his famous words, “… for the government of the people, for the people and by the people.” Sadly, this is not reflected in the Clinton approach to national governance, a fact proven over and over again during her extensive political career. Although my trust is in God to use whomever wins the election to accomplish His purposes for the next four to eight years, I grieve over the thought of a Clinton administration and what it would mean to those freedoms we hold so dear. The voice of the people will have made the decision and that’s the source of my troubled heart.

Samuel 8 tells how the elders of Israel came to Samuel pleading for a king. This event seems to be pertinent to the position in which we find ourselves today. Samuel was so displeased, not because the people were rejecting his advice, but because they were rejecting God as their King. They demanded a king and the Lord told Samuel to do as the people requested:

“We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.” When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. The Lord answered, “Listen to them and give them a king.” (Samuel 8:19-22)

I hear the cry of so many people demanding a president who will lead this nation further away from God. My heart is troubled, much like Samuel’s, as the voice of so many citizens demanding a liberal and godless administration is trumpeted throughout the land. Just as God gave Israel what they demanded, we as a nation could be in the same position if God chooses to give us what so many are wanting. If that happens, I believe we, much like Israel, will come to deeply regret it. The consequences will be worse than anyone could anticipate. Too many are going to the voting booth without having considered the consequences, without having prayed for guidance, and without any concern for the good of our nation as a whole.

While I cannot and will not tell you who to vote for, I’m merely sharing my heart and my burden and the reason I’ve decided to vote for the Trump/Pence ticket. I pray you have taken the time to approach your duty as an American citizen to vote prayerfully and have taken the time to learn what each candidate stands for. A Clinton win will drive us further away from the Judeo-Christian values upon which this nation was founded. A Trump win gives us hope that at least some element of integrity will be restored to the governance of our nation, perhaps mostly because of those with whom he has surrounded himself to offer critically needed guidance and wisdom in executing the duties of the President of the United States.

Please pray with me … pray for the Trump, Pence and the Clinton, Kaine families during this critical time. Join with all those who are storming the gates of heaven with prayers and intercessions on behalf of this nation. Pray for God’s will to be accomplished, for our nation to be preserved, and for the sanctity of human life to be restored.

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[This blog is based on my opinions and personal convictions. I share them in my individual capacity as an American citizen and an author. This does not necessarily reflect the views of Heart of God International Ministries or Jan Ross Ministries, which are non-profit organizations and which declare no political or legislative positions.]