Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.
Normally, the day before an election, I am excited, busy with Get Out The Vote, anticipating the outcome. This year, not so much. 2020 has been difficult for a lot of reasons, not least of which has been this election.
I was fortunate to be able to travel to California to visit with family a couple of weeks ago. Over the dinner table, I brought up the subject of the election because this was one grandgirlie’s first time to vote. With all of the news, social media posts, and protests, I was curious what she was thinking. Her world is so different from mine at her age. And the influence of her peers, on both sides, makes more of impression than anything I might say. But being a strong Enneagram 8, I gave it a shot by telling her what my core principles and beliefs are when I fill out a ballot. She will make a decision that reflects her beliefs. That is what being a citizen in the United States of America is all about. It may not match mine, but that’s OK.
I have lived through enough elections to know that the end of the world will not happen tomorrow, no matter who wins. It’s easy to let fear destroy your peace rather than trusting God for the outcome. Winning is the goal but not at the cost of relationships with family and friends. Not at the cost of looting and fighting. Not at the cost of turning our young people from faith in God if they discern hypocrisy in our lives.
Daily, I have been reading a prayer that Chuck Swindoll sent out in August and one section is so appropriate for today:
We ask that You guard and guide our leaders.
May uncompromising integrity mark their lives.
We also ask that You unite us as one body, committed to turning our world upside down with love. Equip us with genuine humility and heartfelt compassion. Remind us that we are not alone,
that we are Yours, that You live in us,
and that through us, You make known
the full expression of Your love.
May that love heal our land and change our world.
In the powerful name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.
My friend, it is really all about love.
As you go to the polls tomorrow, pray, vote your conscience, leave the results up to God, and love your neighbor.