JUST THINKING: Is There No Balm in America?

      As I read and listened to many comments regarding our recent national election, I was just thinking about the need for healing in our country. I was reminded of the lament of Jeremiah, who asked, “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?” (Jer. 8:22 NIV1984).

The Balm of Gilead

         That verse was not about physical healing. It was about spiritual calming and healing for a distraught nation — Israel. The balm of Gilead was a rare, but useful medicinal perfume of the mint family. It could soothe the parched, dry skin, but its aroma could calm the troubled soul.

      Jeremiah desired the latter for the nation of Israel. Metaphorically, the prophet was saying that the nation needed healing that only God could provide.

We Live in a Troubled Nation

         The results of the recent election have brought about a myriad of feelings from one coast to the other. Some are sad, some are mad and some are glad. Even though some are politically reeling, the truth is that our nation needs spiritual healing.

      Now is not a time for further division. It is a time for unifying healing. My friends, that healing can only come when we turn our eyes upon Jesus, our hearts toward the Heavenly Father and yield ourselves to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

God’s Reply to a King

         As King Solomon prayed, God heard and answered, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humbles themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (II Chron. 7:14).

      God didn’t say, “If the nation will gripe, bicker, insult, rebel and continue to sin. He said to pray, seek and turn. Those are the actions of repentance.

There is a Balm in America

      No matter what one’s political affiliation, the election process is over. We can moan and groan or we can come together, seeking the face of God and then following the words of our Savior: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second (great commandment) is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Mark 12:30-31).

      One of the great truths about the omniscience of God is He knew the results of every race that was run in the local, state and national campaigns. Nothing ever surprises the Lord. Many things sadden the Lord, and among those are when believers in Christ insult their fellow believers because of politics. Is there a balm in America? Yes indeed! His name is Jesus, the Lord of lords and King of kings. May we turn our eyes on Him and lift our prayer on behalf of our nation.