Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you.
He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
You can’t escape the television ads, phone calls asking for money or votes, campaign signs lining the roads, and a mailbox full of campaign mailers and requests for money. The election season is about to end and we can all breathe a sigh of relief.
But can we? The one thing I’ve learned from my many years involved in politics is that we can’t depend on politics. It is a fickle taskmaster that sways from one side to the other, at times, almost on a whim. The blood, sweat, and tears that I have spent on a particular candidate or issue may be completely upended on Election Day.
I will never forget watching the returns on Tuesday evening in November, 1992, tears streaming down my face, as Bill Clinton was hailed the winner. He was not my choice. Yet, the next morning, I hear the click of the fax machine and as the paper rolls off, I read the morning recap from Gary Bauer. Never, never, never, never, give up by Winston Churchill. OK. Breathe. Regroup. And do it all over again.
We are elated when our candidate wins. It makes us puff up our chest and feel like we were right all along. But what if our candidate loses? Did we misplace our hope? Were we wrong?
The enemy is alive and well on planet, Earth. He wants nothing more than to discourage us and keep us in the background and silent. He may even give us a few small wins to keep us quiet. But on the big stuff, he pulls out the big guns.
But the part that took so long to learn is that I’m not in control of elections—or anything, for that matter. God is sovereign and He will see that His will is done. All I’m called to do, as a Christian, is to be faithful to the task He has given me.
As much as I would like to go into hiding after an election. we no longer have the luxury. Whether we win or lose, we are still called to be salt and light—to shine His love in the darkness and season our world with His hope and peace. We don’t know what the future holds for any of us. But we do know who holds our future.
Gerry – found my response to your blog – it ended up posted on my Facebook!! How the heck did that happen?? Oh well, here it is.
Excellent article! The outcome of the Romney/Obama election hit Kevin and I the hardest. We were just so sure the Lord would allow Romney to prevail for the good of the country, and we were deeply troubled for our future. But the Lord reminded us that this election outcome was no surprise to him…he is in control…always. And we believe he allowed this to happen as a “wake up call” to all of us – those who have turned their back on God, and even believers and churches that have grown complacent. You are absolutely right that all we are called to do is to be faithful to the task He has given us (and amp up the prayers!)