3. The Insurrection: Martin's Prayer

Martin

"Father God:

Your word told me that if I am afraid to just trust in You.Your word told me to be of courage and stand my ground in Your Name, Father. But right now, at this moment, I am scared, God. I am at Your mercy. I am on my knees. I am looking for Your direction, looking for Your face, listening for Your voice. I need You now more than ever and Your voice is quiet in my heart."

The television played in the background - Martin tried to tone it out but the harder he tried to concentrate on his words, the louder the television to got.

We have just gotten word that the Vice-President is barricaded in the chambers. Protestors are breaking windows. Doors are being ripped off the hinges. It is absolute carnage right now in the Nation’s Capital.”

Still, Martin kept praying.

"Your people cry out in horror. You told me to commit to non-violence, and yet violence is happening all around, Father. I pray for Your sufficient grace. I pray for Your protection. I pray Your protection over every person in that Capitol right now, God! Every Congressmen and every civilian - wrap Your arms around them right now God. Ease the minds and hearts of those watching from home. Let Your peace fill the halls of the Rotunda and flow through the nation, God. Your people are in peril. Your people are in pain, God! You see the division; you see the hate coarsening through the veins of Your children, Father! Replace that hate with love, God! Give that darkness light! For we know that you are the way, the truth, and the light. We know that Your hand is unchanging and you are the Unmoved Mover. You told us to seek the kingdom of heaven through God and right now, in this moment, I call Your name, Oh God!"

We can now confirm that there have been fatalities in the US Capitol. We are unclear how many at this time.

The tears were building up behind King’s eyes. The tv playing in the background carried on:

The Rioters have reached the Rotunda.

The Speaker of The House’s Office has just been breached.

You have to wonder, Walter, where is the National Guard? Where is the President? Why haven’t we heard from him?

King tried to drown out the sounds of all of the background noises - but he could hear what was happening. He could hear what was coming from the television. He prayed harder. Hoping that God would hear his voice, see his heart.

"I cry out to you oh God! I am at Your mercy! I am a vessel for Your work and Your divine intervention. I am scared, Father. I am faltering. I give it all to you!”

Martin could hear the angry mob chanting through the television - it sounded as if they were right outside the Oval.

Hang That Nigger! Hang That Nigger!

Martin drowned out the television as best he could.

"Let Your love fill the hearts of my white brethren oh, father! Let their hearts be softened, and may they show grace to their Black brothers and sisters, God! Show them that there is no peace in hate and no morality in violence! Open up the hearts of Your children and pour in Your forgiveness; allow them to adopt it as an attitude rather than an occasional act. Father, I know you are disappointed in Your children, but I know Oh, God! That in Your disappointment - there is love and tho I pray that you are not infinitely disappointed in us, Father, I pray that Your love transforms every enemy into a friend. I pray that Your righteousness covers us all. I pray for peace. I pray for peace in this time of chaos."

Martin’s prayers were interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Mr. President?”

Martin kept praying.

"Lord you heard my cry in Montgomery. You heard my cry in Atlanta. You heard my cry in Selma. You heard my cry in Chicago. You heard my cry in Augusta. You heard my cry in Macon and in Tampa; you heard my cry in Birmingham and Clarksdale, Don’t forsake me now."

“Mr. President!”

The knocks on the door grew louder - and Martin prayed harder.

"I know you are the All Knowing and the All Seeing. I know that you give me the strength to work in Your favor. But I am lost. I am in the wilderness. I do not know what to do at this moment and in this time. Give me strength oh God. Give me strength. Use me. Show me how to take who I am, who I want to be, and what I can do, and use it for a purpose greater than myself. It is for these things that I ask for You, humbly Father. In Jesus name, Amen.”

Martin, still in the prayer position, kept his eyes and head bowed. He allowed himself to let the tears flow. This was a burden so few men and even fewer women had carried - bearing the responsibility of a nation’s well-being with the stroke of a pen or the affirmation of a single decision could be the difference between life and death. He knew that these 4 years would be difficult. He knew that he would find himself among a rock, a hard place, and an impossible mountain. He knew that tears would come in this office. But above all - Martin knew that when God called, He had to stand tall. He opened his eyes when he realized the room had become engulfed in silence. The television had turned off - by itself.

Bewildered, Martin stood to his feet and walked back to his desk.

“Mr. President!”

“Yes, Ralph? Come in,"Martin answered.

“The Security Council has assembled in the Situation Room.” Have you come to a decision?”

Martin pulled a Kleenex from his drawer, quietly dabbing the tears way from his eyes.

“Yes,” he answered, “Yes, I have.”