If you're anything like me, the election news has been overwhelming lately. Online and in person, people are giving their opinions and then fighting over those opinions. As a non-conflict person I want to crawl under a blanket. And maybe not come out until January.
I get it that people are opinionated about the election. It makes sense. There's a lot of big stuff being discussed. But here’s what’s breaking my heart: the lack of respect for each other. The absence of kindness and grace.
You believe who you're going to believe in. You're ready to vote for whoever you're ready to vote for. The person next to you has their own opinion. They are ready to vote for whoever they are going to vote for. What we do with that defines who we are. Especially as Christians.
I may disagree with you on a political issue, but I can still love you as a person. And that is why I am choosing love. I do not think that a candidate is more important than loving the person next to me. I can disagree with someone, have a different opinion, and still treat them respectfully with kindness and grace.
All election years feel crazy, but this one feels especially overwhelming. So many people are struggling with a lack of hope. They are afraid of the outcome. They are afraid of the “other person” winning. And they are letting fear dictate how they treat each other.
Fear does not need to win this fight. No matter who is elected, we as Christians can have complete confidence that our God is still in control. He is on the throne. He is not afraid. He is not cowering in the corner dependent on our vote one way or the other. I'm not saying not to vote, so don't even go there with me. What I am saying is that we have peace no matter the outcome. Because we have a mighty God. It's not about who is the president, it’s about who is the king.
In the Bible, God is defined by all sorts of names and titles. Ones like Jehovah. Immanuel. Father. Ruler. Peacemaker. But King isn't one I often focus on.
The Merriam Webster dictionary defines a king as this:
- a : a male monarch of a major territorial unit; especially: one whose position is hereditary and who rules for life
b : a paramount chief - capitalized : GOD, CHRIST
- one that holds a preeminent position; especially : a chief among competitors
Did you catch that?? One who rules for life. Chief among competitors.
How often I forget that God isn't just my loving Father, but a KING. A ruler. He's in charge. Strong. Mighty. Basically he kicks butt.
We don't give God nearly the credit he deserves for his strength—at least I don't. I think it's because he's so gentle and patient and kind and forgiving with us. But there is a quiet strength under his grace-filled demeanor. He is not going to lose. He's not even entertaining the chance that Satan might win. He is planning a battle, and we are the soldiers. And our KING is one to be feared and revered.
We do not need to live in fear of election results. We do not need to lash out at one another. We have a king. Our futures are not only decided, they are secure.
“1 Clap your hands, all you nations;
shout to God with cries of joy.
2 For the Lord Most High is awesome,
the great King over all the earth.
3 He subdued nations under us,
peoples under our feet.
4 He chose our inheritance for us,
the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.
5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy,
the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth;
sing to him a psalm of praise.
8 God reigns over the nations;
God is seated on his holy throne.
9 The nobles of the nations assemble
as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings of the earth belong to God;
he is greatly exalted.”
