Tag Archives: United States

06.28.26
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“We Hold These Truths to Be Self-Evident”

Nicole D. Hayes, Founder, Voices Against the Grain

“We hold these truths to be self-evident” are the words penned primarily by Thomas Jefferson that serve as the preamble of the Declaration of Independence of the United States adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. The words were written as the first 13 States were declaring their independence from British colonial rule and regarding themselves as sovereign states. Those iconic and often repeated opening words are followed by these words: “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Without debate or disagreement, we know that as imperfect forefathers, as imperfect people, as imperfect leaders, and as an imperfect nation, we have fallen short of these truths and ideals. As referenced in my June 26, 2026 Voices Against the Grain blog post, “Our 250th: What Exactly Are We Celebrating?”, I lament our failings as a nation even amid many things to celebrate about the United States. It is true. It is true that God has fashioned me to see and speak things as they need to be seen and said without watering it down. I also know that God has fashioned me as an encourager. I love to encourage others! Admittedly, sometimes the encourager needs encouraging. I can only imagine how the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah felt when he said the words, “How long” (Jeremiah 4:12, Jeremiah 11-12) when seeing wickedness and asking when God would address the injustices. The Psalms are also famous for David and Asaph’s words asking “How long, O LORD?,” would God allow wickedness to continue without redress. The despair, grief and frustration they were experiencing is not uncommon to us nor to God.

But there is a greater Truth we must hold on to even when we and others fail to hold to our promises; when we fail to esteem one another as God’s image bearers, as the Imago Dei full of inherent dignity and worth. That truth is that God IS FAITHFUL and that His righteousness and justice WILL PREVAIL. He is fully aware of mankind and is more than able and more than qualified to right situations that look impossible. I am reminded throughout God’s Word, particularly in the Psalms (I am reading the Psalms this summer as part of the “Summer in the Psalms” reading plan with Rachel G. Scott as several others are doing this summer 🙂 ), how David and Asaph would cry out to God, honestly express their feelings and inquiries, and then PIVOT to praise God, fully assured of His faithfulness. God IS faithful to uphold HIS Word and promises! He is true to His CHARACTER. He will hold wickedness accountable. He IS faithful to keep us as we endure between the tension of what we are praying for and believing it will come to pass.

I share the commentary below from the Life Application Study Bible on Jeremiah’s example of endurance in hard times, amid corrupt leaders, amid injustices and persecution. I leave you with this encouragement from Psalm 73:27-28, “Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.” (NIV)

Pray, endure and be encouraged! God is faithful and just even when man is not.

Forgive us, Lord. Strengthen us to walk in your ways. Please strive with us a while longer. Thank you. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

Love and God bless you,

Nicole

06.26.26
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Our 250th: What Exactly Are We Celebrating?

Nicole D. Hayes, Founder, Voices Against the Grain

Is anyone besides me feeling less than celebratory about our country’s upcoming 250th? While we can express gratitude over many things about our nation, there is much to lament, much to view honestly about our history and present. There is the tendency of some to skirt these issues instead with a slice of apple or cherry pie and the waving of our flag as if things are copacetic. That things are perfectly fine. Perhaps for some it is just as well to eat the pie, wave the flag, ignore the destruction and keep it moving. However, I am of the mind that we should instead be wearing “sackcloth and ashes” to truly examine and lament.

The matter screams for an entire blog post to be written but that seems exhausting to me because the issues in themselves are exhaustive–though not uncommon to previous generations and governments. We have much work to do inwardly and outwardly with God’s help if we so desire and yield to it. I celebrate (at least for now) being able to write and post in full honesty. I celebrate the boldness, courage, perseverance and sacrifices of those past and present who have attempted to hold our nation to its convictions. I celebrate community near and far for which makes bearing through the struggles much more possible. For those who already know and consider ourselves first and foremost citizens of another Kingdom, God’s Kingdom, continue to seek the welfare of your city and community where God has placed you (Jeremiah 29:7). Be a repairer of the breach as described in Isaiah 58:12. 

-Nicole

06.02.17
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“In the Beginning,” Came the End

Nicole Headshot in blue shirt

Nicole D. Hayes, Founder, Voices Against the Grain

People. Birds. Animals. Insects. Trees. Flowers. Stars. Planets. Everything God created has a life cycle. Everything created will die. While you were watching the NBA finals last night, or eating or feeding your family, hanging with your peeps or finishing your homework, someone and something else died.

I write this on the heels of Thursday’s news that President Donald Trump decided to pull the United States out of the Paris Climate Accord. The accord is positioned as a voluntary agreement for countries to contribute financially and technologically to mitigate their impact in producing harmful emissions that are said to be causing Earth’s increasing temperatures. The pollution is also said to cause climate change and global warming (billion dollar words that are $$ billion dollar businesses for a number of companies and industries) in which scientists and experts say is wreaking havoc on our planet’s ecosystem, weather patterns and ultimately, humanity’s survival.

In short, the earth is dying.

Yesterday’s news announcement has troubled many at home and abroad from citizens to domestic and foreign leaders. The concerns raised are certainly valid: What will become of our and our children’s health if pollution factors are not reduced or eliminated? What will become of the United States’ ability to compete technologically and economically to lead and not fall behind in this effort? How does this decision make the United States appear before the 195 other countries who chose to participate in the Paris Climate Accord—as the U.S. joins the only other two countries (Nicaragua and Syria) that did not participate?

While many people are ranting, protesting and hugging trees about the dreaded news, I sat at my desk last night thinking about the awesomeness of our awesome God. I reflected in awe on the opening words from Genesis 1:1–

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Honestly, this verse and the entire passage of Genesis 1 that describes God’s intentional, purposeful and ordered creation of Earth, night and day, sea and sky, land and vegetation, animals and human life, keeps me in arrested awe of His great work!! I cannot fathom it!! Can you? Everything He did in creating the Earth, the universe and us depicts God’s intentional and intimate design to have a relationship with us. For decades and even unto today, scientists have submitted varying creation theories on how the universe, earth and we came to be; how the earth is precisely positioned (not one degree off), exquisitely calibrated and contains the perfect elements to support life (aka, the “anthropic principle”)! How can such perfection come if not from an external and intentional Creator/Designer?

 

Earth

Like all creation, the earth and universe has been given a life cycle. The clock started ticking billions of years ago and is winding down to death. This process began with “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Admittedly, I am no scientist yet I’ve learned enough to simplify the complex.  In learning about our universe, many scientists have arrived at two unmistakable laws about its creation and trajectory: 1- that something cannot come from nothing (there must be an external creator, matter cannot create itself) and second and last, 2- the law of decay (second law of thermodynamics) which implies that the universe rather than expanding in life is instead gradually dying. The universe and earth has a beginning and an end. Both will be no more.

In fact, Jesus tells us this in Matthew 24:35, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

In all of the chaos, expert data and opinions, news of the day, God says words we can be sure of: “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10), and to “Take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). This is the same God who says, “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:7)

With the aforementioned verses, do we have any reason whatsoever to be fearful about news, the coming events or the trajectory of our planet in its winding down? He is God, the Great “I AM” who knows the number of hairs on your head or hairs that were once there  🙂 . He is the God who hung the stars in their place, who causes day and night to greet you, who promises to be your refuge; to protect you and rescue you as told to us in Psalm 91.

Will you take comfort and rest in the intentionality of God’s faithfulness and care for you, even as things are dying, in perceived chaos and decay? If you’ve read the Book of Revelation, you know worse is to come. But even still, has He taken care of you?

I am reminded of a hard and fast promise I learned about God when I was a little girl along with my friends. You may have learned it too. We sang about it and even had gestures to accompany the words:

“He’s got the whole world in His hands, He’s got the whole world in His hands, He’s got the whole world in His hands. He’s got you and me brother in His hands, He’s got you and me brother in His hands, He’s got the whole world in His hands. He’s got you and me sister in His hands, He’s got you and me sister in His hands, He’s got the whole world in His hands.”

A simple truth that should comfort His Children today, tomorrow and even when our beginning becomes the end. The worries and concerns of our day are reserved for those whose confidence is placed in and built upon the idols of data, experts, systems, intellectual pride, news stories and bandwagons. The news reports are devastating for those who have made earth their home rather than those of us who are focused on our eternal home in Christ Jesus. Christians are well to acknowledge good science that accurately tells the exquisite story of God’s creation. In that creation and science, we are indeed called to be good stewards of what God has blessed us with and entrusted to us (we have not done this very well). But it doesn’t mean we elevate the science above God.

To those of you who already walk in the understanding of Whose report to believe and trust in, praise God! You are indeed fit for the fight! For those needing their concerns and fears allayed/put at ease, know that He’s got you and He’s always had you. You will not be snatched from His Hands (John 10:28). He has the whole world in His Hands. And we are reminded in scripture of more Good News: But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13). Amen!

Love and God bless you,

Nicole

Nicole D. Hayes is the founder of Voices Against the Grain, a bold teaching ministry launched in May 2013. Nicole’s purpose in creating Voices Against the Grain is to be light in darkness, to boldly instruct truth amid confusion so as to bring clarity and restoration.

Learn more about Nicole D. Hayes here.