It’s that time again — election season, when yard signs pop up like autumn weeds and social media erupts in partisan shrill. I feel the apostle’s anguish: “Who will deliver me?” Seriously, has digital bombast ever altered your convictions? Likely, it deepens your resolve, instead.
Will our problems go away after November 5 (Election Day) or January 20 (Inauguration Day)? The honest answer is, no; in this world we will always have threats and calamity. Which gives rise to another question: Is one candidate better equipped than the other to handle emerging challenges? Most of us would say, yes, and God’s Word would confirm some leaders are better suited to the task than others. In Proverbs we read, “Wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability.”1 Also, “A just king gives stability to his nation, but one who demands bribes destroys it.”2 (Yikes!) There are differences in leadership ability, so we do well to look beyond professionally crafted campaign strategies and to be realistic as to who is better equipped to lead us amid the treachery in our world today.
Perhaps you’re waiting for me to air my support of one political candidate over another. I have my convictions — my choice is clear — and I will express them in the election booth, moreover, voting early to do so. Regardless of whether my presidential candidate wins or loses, however, this I believe, and in this I place my confidence: “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.”3 Again, “Put not your trust in princes . . . in whom there is no salvation.”4 It is natural to look to God when election results disappoint, yet it is equally important, indeed vital, to run to Him when things go our way, lest we misplace our trust.
How we vote matters: as responsible citizens, we must seek and apply godly wisdom. In Whom we place our confidence matters even more, for only God is worthy of our trust. He’s got my vote. What about you, how will you cast your ballot? Where will you place your trust for good?
“The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” — Proverbs 21:1 ESV
Father, we are overwhelmed with all sorts of worldly influence, much of it true and much of it false. We are tempted to vote by our worldly identity instead of Your heavenly wisdom. Send Your Spirit to guide us in Your ways and to draw us to Your throne. You and You alone are King, our Leader forever. Amen.
1 Proverbs 28:2 NLT
2 Proverbs 29:4 NLT
3 Psalm 118:8-9 ESV
4 Psalm 146:3 ESV
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Who’s Got Your Vote?
Paul Nordman—Author 