Yesterday, I read online neighbors arguing over the election. One neighbor stated you can’t call yourself a Christian if you vote for Trump, another spoke against the Democratic socialist agenda and stated if you are a Christian you must vote Republican. They went back and forth slapping each other with harsh words slathered in pride.  I wish I could say this is extreme and uncommon, but we all know it has become all too normal. 

So sad. 

When we die and face our Heavenly Father, aren’t you thankful He’s not going to open the Book of Life, scroll down and find who we voted for in the 2020 election? 

Remember Who’s in Control:

 Today, as we start our probable three day or longer wait to uncover who will be our next President, we must rest in the promise our God is Sovereign. Beyond performing our civic duty of voting and releasing our requests for God’s favor through prayer, it’s really out of our hands. So, we have no reason to be anxious or fearful because God is in charge. 

            Today, I read Matthew 8:23-27, Jesus and the disciples are in the boat on the Sea of Galilee. Back in February, my husband and I visited the Sea of Galilee and I noticed how quickly the surface of the water changed from glass to white caps. I suppose that’s what happened in this passage in Matthew because a storm arose. Matthew describes it as a “great storm.” 

Where was Jesus? 

Asleep. 

He was asleep in the hull of the boat as it was being swamped by the waves. He must have been exhausted to sleep through a good dousing of cold water. (My teenagers can too.) Meanwhile, these seasoned fishermen feared for their lives and wakened Jesus asking Him to save them. 

            Jesus stood and asked them… “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?”

            Then Christ rebuked the winds and the sea. Immediately, the Sea of Galilee returned to glass.

            Jesus slept in the boat during the storm because He didn’t live His life fearing the storms. He knew who was in charge. When He awoke, the Father told Him to calm the seas, and Jesus spoke the storm away. 

Words have power.

            And we can trust His Words with our lives too.

            “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 ESV.

There Will be a Storm…

Resting in the Father’s sovereignty has brought me through some storms in my life. In some of those situations, God has had to pry the wheel out of my hands in order to steer me to more peaceful waters. I can’t help but feel this is one of those times for this country. There may be a storm no matter which candidate wins.

But, God doesn’t want our minds filled with angst and anger towards those that believe differently than ourselves. Imagine how it was for Paul in his mission of spreading the gospel to the Gentiles. He lived in a time when many didn’t believe the way he did, but in his writings to the church in Philippi, he wrote…

“Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy or praise, think about those things.” Philippians 4:8 (ESV)

I often wonder while in prison how he managed to keep from being filled with hate towards those that held the keys to his door? How would we cope, when we can’t even love someone who doesn’t see eye to eye with us on politics. 

And…feeling superior isn’t love. 

Who’s the Anchor of Your Hopes?

The truth is Paul’s hopes couldn’t be anchored by his government. Remember the Roman emperor Nero? He staked Christians (including women and children), dipped them in tar, and lit them on fire so their bodies provided light for his nighttime garden parties. Real charmer indeed. Imagine having him for president. Paul’s hopes had to be tied to the spiritual not the physical. In his writings to Rome he stated: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13 ESV

Here is another blog post that mentions Paul’s struggles.

Are we willing to see past the physical when the polling results roll in and still remain afloat in hope? We must anchor our hopes in the Father’s will.

How about some good news? Lord willing, we will wake up tomorrow morning and breathe, the sun will rise, there will still be plenty of kingdom work to be done, and through the power of Jesus Christ we’ll be able to love our neighbors—even those difficult ones who voted wrong. And if we’ve created strife in our relationships due to our politics, it’s time to bandage those wounds.  

Our Real Affiliation:

 Tonight as we watch the map of the United States being covered in patches of blues and reds I hope you will find peace in the fact God is in control. He can see far beyond those choppy waves, past the horizon of our limited vision. 

In the end of our lives, it’s not going to matter whether you called yourself a Republican, a Democrat, or an Independent, instead it all boils down to whether you’ve accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and through the saving power of the cross alone…God calls you His. 

Child of God.

Isn’t that a way better title?

May you have a peaceful evening…and I’ll see you on the other side of all this cray cray.

(Note: Due to time constraints, this article appears in its unedited version. We apologize for any errors.)