Anxious about this election?

Anyone out there anxious or distressed about the presidential election?  Is there a way to relieve this distress, regardless of political preferences? YES.

First, take the long view. Can we back out of this event at this time in this place to consider the universe within which the election is taking place? God provides for us universally, for body and soul, in time and eternity. Jesus said, “Whoever lives and believes in Me will never see death” (John 8:51-52). Paul reminds us that “God makes all things work together for good…” (Romans 8:28) and then intensifies the power of that promise by recalling history: “He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). From God’s universal creative and redeeming work we can then look inward to consider how God makes our hearts beat, our respiration regular, our cells regenerate. We can come to a profound restfulness and peace in God’s providence for us.

Second, enjoy the high ground. Knowing how God provides for us and thinking about the many ways by which He communicates that to us give us a vastly different perspective, like observing the landscape from a mountain top. Romans 13 says there is no authority except from God. Psalm 121 directs us to look upward, toward God and His Word, from which our help comes, regardless of the governance of man. There have been 58 presidential elections in U.S. history, some for better, some for worse. It is likely that part of the population was distressed during each one of them . . . yet here we are, blessed and well provided for in every way.

Third, what is best? Our form of government is certainly among the best ever. One bad thing about the U.S. system of government is like a very large ship; you can’t turn it very quickly. One good thing about the U.S. is that you can’t turn it very quickly.  The best part of knowing the truth is that it is an inexhaustible yet free source of good news about how comprehensively God provides for our life, no matter how the ship is going at any given moment. May the peace of God that surpasses human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life infinite.