I went to sleep last night at 10 pm. Yep. Ten o’clock. I’ve prayed for months and months and days and days leading up to the election, “Lord, not our will but Yours be done.” I voted and then prayed some more. There was nothing left for me to do. And I was tired.
So when the election coverage was just heating up, I was slipping away into dreamland. And it was nice. Peaceful. I woke up to a new President-elect. A flawed individual, for sure (aren’t we all?). But he’s now our Commander-in-Chief-to-be.
And there’s a question I believe both sides are asking this morning in light of this.
Now what?
We Will NOT Fear
God is not in the least afraid of, or surprised by, this outcome. He’s not sitting on the throne, wringing His hands and looking at the angels saying, “Now what are we going to do? I did NOT see this coming. Quick! We need a plan.”
Let’s remember this conversation between Jesus and Pilate.
Pilate: Why don’t you talk to me? Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?Jesus: You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above.
And let’s not forget these words from Daniel.
“Praise the name of God forever and ever,
for He has all wisdom and power.
He controls the course of world events;
He removes kings and sets up other kings.(Daniel 2:20-21)
God hasn’t lost one ounce of His power, and His plans will prevail no matter who is president.
He’s a good God, a strong God, and mighty God, and that will never change. No fear necessary.
We Will Trust God
All along, God has used individuals with flaws. Because He’s stuck with us. And we’re all human. And flawed.
He’s not limited in what He can do by what we can understand.
I would have never thought of parting the Red Sea. He’s so smart. And powerful. And limitless. Thank God He’s God and not me.
We would have never called Cyrus, a heathen king, His anointed, yet He specifically chose him to commission the rebuilding of Jerusalem and His holy temple.
He used a tax to make sure Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem instead of Nazareth when the baby was due so that prophecy would be fulfilled. That tax was a good thing, but they probably didn’t think so at the time. Who likes taxes?
Peter thought the cross was a horrible idea. The thought of his best friend being tortured and killed? No way could that be a God idea. But he wasn’t seeing things from God’s perspective either. He was only looking at it through his pain and discomfort.
God’s got a plan that’s bigger than we can understand. And this election is only one small piece of the puzzle. He knows what He’s doing. He can be trusted.
We Will Honor and Pray
Nero. Peter and Paul lived under the reign of Nero, one of the most wicked, evil, and vile leaders ever to rule. Ever. He hung Christians on poles in his garden and burned them alive to use as torches at night.
But they both encouraged the church to honor the king. That king. And to pray…
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. (I Timothy 2:1-4)
We’ve prayed throughout the election cycle. We have to trust God and continue to seek Him. Seek His plan. Press in to prayer even more. Our job isn’t finished. It’s only beginning…..
God, bless, help and protect our leaders. Send the rain of Your presence and an outpouring of your spirit on our land. Help the church be the light and the salt You’ve called her to be. Show us how to pray. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
