Elections can sometimes feel like a renewal, a kind of rebirth for citizens. But for the Christian, our hope will never be fulfilled in the “perfect candidate.” Our King is Jesus and our citizenship is in heaven. Our loyalty to him far exceeds any loyalty we have to a president or to our country. I love America and the values on which she was built. I am forever thankful for our freedoms, secured and protected at great cost. But this is a temporary home for me, and my ultimate hope and allegiance lie elsewhere.
Pray for Our Leaders
My discomfort pushes me to do four things: to pray, to trust, to share and to hope. My four-year-old loves Old Testament stories of bravery and courage—David slew the giant, Gideon led an army of a few men, Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den. These are real stories, with real characters, no fiction added, and relevant for Christians in America today.
Our current events are reminders that all our circumstances are ordained by God’s good hand and plan. Daniel’s example of standing firm against a rule of law instills us with courage to pray. Having heard about new and oppressive laws threatening his freedom to worship God, Daniel prayed, “as he had done previously” (Daniel 6:10). Things had changed in his nation, but nothing changed in Daniel’s heart, his passion and commitment to follow the Lord. And nothing should change in ours.
This presidential race leads me to pray for our country, our leaders, both local and national, and on both sides of the aisle. It puts my trust back in the One who should have all my trust. Our trust as Christians lies in the one who “reigns over the nations” (Psalm 47:8), not just over the United States.
Our Hope and the Harvest
When my trust is in the Lord and not in a presidential candidate, I know I will never be disappointed. As long as we have breath, we are called to go to the nations and share the gospel (Matthew 28:19). If I was really comfortable with where this country was headed, would I feel the same urgency and freedom to go? Probably not.
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). For the Christian that is left feeling uncomfortable with the upcoming presidential election, our hope is secure and the harvest is plentiful.
