December 2, 2020
Post Election Stress
Wendy Speake
Today’s Truth
So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above...” (John 19:10-11)
Friend to Friend
In the wake of this tumultuous election season, I’ve been thinking of Christ’s words to Pilate. “You would have no authority… at all unless it had been given you from above.”
Whether you consider the results of the past election as a victory or a tremendous loss, now is a good time to remember that God establishes kings and kingdoms; He lifts up and brings low those in power; He purposes victory and defeat alike; and He can be trusted. He is not a hands-off God, nor is He cruel. He is kind and actively engaged in the lives of His beloved creation.
Nothing and no one will ever threaten God’s sovereign rule, His absolute power, or eternal purposes. Though we may not understand His reasons we cannot deny His reign.
God’s vantage point in the narrative of mankind is vast and loving. No President can usurp God’s ultimate plan for our nation or the world.
What a relief.
Again, whether you find yourself celebrating or grieving these days, feeling hopeful or hopeless, actively choose to trust our Heavenly Sovereign. For His ways will surely prevail in the end.
As God said in Isaiah:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV)
Throughout the Bible we see the Lord establish good kings to do His will, but He also used evil kings. Over all, there remains One true King presiding over humanity from beginning to end. He is The Authority over all men and women in authority!
One of my most repeated prayers is simply, “I trust You, Lord.” I actively choose to trust God with what I cannot understand, what I do not agree with, and everything that threatens my peace. With my children’s challenges, marital stress, financial uncertainty, and health difficulties, I trust Him. Even in the face of political strife so intense that family members are not speaking to one another, I trust Him. We can actively choose to trust the One who is trustworthy.
A few years ago, my pastor taught a series on the book of Esther. Throughout his lessons he kept repeated a simple phrase that has stayed with me over the years: “God is the hand within the glove of human history.”
From ages past, to present day, to the future to come. He is Kind and He is King and you can trust Him.
What peace that affords us today. What tremendous peace.
If, however, you lack peace in the aftermath of so much political strife, let me encourage you to take a break from the world’s news and spend time in the Good News. It’s time to turn down the noise in order to be still and know that God still reigns. Regardless of who is in The White House, God is on the throne.
Read that last sentence again, take a deep breath, and pray with me:
Let’s Pray
I trust You, Lord! You establish kings and kingdoms. Though your ways are not always my ways, nor are Your thoughts my thoughts, I confess that You are God and I am not. So, I submit to You by yielding my fears and my tears. I give you my stress, and I give you my faith.
In the Sovereign Name of King Jesus, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Would it bring you peace to turn off the news and spend more time in the Good News? I’m not suggesting we should be unaware, but maybe all of our awareness has made us unaware of the peace available when we trust God with all that concerns us today. What would happen if you shut down the news apps and social media sites for 40 days?
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© 2020 by Wendy Speake. All rights reserved.
