Into each life some rain must fall.  Everyone faces a variety of challenges.  From daily struggles for economic survival in a stumbling world economy to personal tribulations like disease, tragedy, and broken personal relationships, life is not easy. 

However, high costs in life also give life its tremendous value.  But most of all our trials present opportunities to develop a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior.  When we trust the Creator, He will show the magnificence of all His creations.

But what about when the big picture seems hopeless?  When every indicator is going the wrong way, the world seems upside down.

The biggest most unacceptable shock is that America is no longer “great” and probably not even good anymore.  Whether in economic strength, military might, international influence, or even our culture, America is declining precipitously.

Unable to even break even, the American economy has been losing ground for almost a decade squeezing out the middle class.  Since 2000, the upper and middle classes have been shrinking while the lower class grows.  In this upside down world, Chinese communists have leveraged capitalism to grow the Chinese middle class; China’s middle class has surpassed the American middle class – we are no longer the world’s main market.

America’s military has been gutted and neutered.  Obama continues cutting a broken military while they are still fighting in the field.  Our generals admit we can no longer win a single sustained combat operation, so we recklessly cling to futile holding actions around the globe needlessly sacrificing American lives for no particular objective.

Contrast the supposed “bombing” campaign against ISIS with the “shock and awe” of Desert Storm.  Our military showcased an air campaign that enabled our troops to sweep the enemy in days.  Obama has been bombing for almost a year and even a fawning press finds nothing to hype.  What world is this when the Russian military entry easily eclipses America and the Russians are perceived as the good guys?!

The United States has forfeited most of its international influence and commands no respect.  Our enemies consider us weak and what allies we have left know not to trust fickle feckless American foreign policy.  Even the Iranians yelled at us while stomping us at the bargaining table.

America stands for nothing except maybe diversified depravity.  We have become a wicked nation where the pursuit of pleasure trumps everything else.  Our culture is dominated by relentless drives to excuse and even legitimize every addiction and perversion.  “If it feels good, do it” has become the moral underpinning for a lost people.

Even our churches have been infected.  Many denominations have discarded scripture for their own hedonistic interpretations, moving beyond acceptance to endorsing whatever perversion.  United Methodist and Episcopalian clergy in Ohio held a “prayer rally” at an abortion clinic; they actually blessed the murder of unborn babies with some nonsensical tortured rhetoric that it is better for the poor to turn to death than to God.  The pagan followers of Moloch have nothing on these ghouls.

Nothing is straightforward anymore; even the simple concepts of male and female are grotesquely confused.  Our military is in disarray just figuring out who wears what uniform.  And many cities like Houston are hotly debating who potties where?  Does a woman or girls’ right to privacy supersede a man’s desire to expose his perversion?  This nonsense is enlightened debate?

All of the worldly absurdities can be overwhelming.  There are certainly still plenty of pious people trying to fight the good fight, but they don’t seem to be gaining any ground probably because we are fighting each other and not the true enemy – evil. 

We should be engaged, but we will only overcome evil and restore American goodness when we return to the Almighty God to fight for us.  He is in control.

“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”  Proverbs 16:9

Pete Riehm is the host of Common Sense Radio heard 8pm every Thursday on FMTalk106.5 or streaming at fmtalk1065.com.  Email him at peteriehm@bellsouth.net.