You can safely assume that you have created God in your own image when you think God hates all the same people you do. — Anne Lamott
Imagine it’s the day after the election. God the Father wakes up, gets some coffee and checks the news on His TV. What?! Startled, He drops His cup. “Son! Check Your phone!” Sure enough, Jesus’ social feed is blown up with urgent messages. Finally, the Spirit looks over their shoulders at the election results. “Whoa! I didn’t see that coming. That’s not who I tried to tell them to vote for.”
That’s not going to happen, is it? No! God the Father is going to look at Jesus and say, “The person we choose is going to lead for now.” In fact, they won’t have to talk about it at all because they planned it all along (and I’m pretty sure God doesn’t drink coffee and Jesus doesn’t need a cell phone either). No, there will be no surprises backstage the morning after. Nothing will go off-script. Elections are won by God; God chooses who will win, and everything is decided when God casts his vote.
“But Pete,” you say… “That doesn’t guarantee us a godly leader, does it?” No, it doesn’t. Just read the Bible; just look at history. Often times God handpicks ungodly people.
“No, that can’t be, Pete!” you argue. “I have listened to the news and the rhetoric is telling me that if “so-and-so” is elected, then everything is going to fall apart. If the person I’m voting for isn’t elected, then the nation as we know it is going to disintegrate before our very eyes!”
Every election cycle, the rhetoric on every stage escalates to an extreme level of doomsday scenarios. It always does. To be sure, all sides use fear to lure you to their side (and the media fuels it to improve their ratings). All sides use the same formula: If ‘so-and-so’ gets elected, then X will happen. And if X happens, then the nation as we know it is done.
How do we break free from this fear? We stop, think, and remember what’s going on backstage.
First, no matter what happens, we remember that God’s in control.
I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things. (Isaiah 45:5-7)
Second, we remember that God never promises things will turn out the way we want on earth. In fact, He promises just the opposite.
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
Third, we can be content with the outcome and rest in what He does promise: His presence and His love.
…be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
So, no… I’m not guaranteeing a godly leader. But I am guaranteeing a leader picked by God—and His pick will be for His glory and our ultimate good.
Sovereign God, may Your peace, which surpasses all comprehension, guard our hearts and our minds in the knowledge of Christ Jesus always. Amen.