Let there be hope

So, how are you feeling about the upcoming elections?

Are you as weary of the spirit behind them as I am?

It's gotten to the point that even being on Facebook before bedtime sends me to bed anxious, sighing in dread and anticipation of what could come.

I've been threatening to leave the country the minute I cast my ballot, and not return til late November...if even then.

Costa Rica is looking pretty sweet right now!

So, be not afraid...this post is not a rant about the highs and lows, strengths and weaknesses, good and evil of each of the candidates.

I won't do to you what I don't want done to me.

Each of us has been given a mind and a free will to vote as our consciences move us.

Instead, I want to encourage you with something I read this morning in the book of Mark.

I wasn't looking for election illumination...just my need for daily sustenance in order to survive one more earthly day...

And glory, look what I found!

   "And Jesus went on with His disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He asked His disciples, Who do people say that I am?
   And they answered Him, John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets.
   And He asked them, But who do you yourselves say that I am? Peter replied to Him, You are the Christ.
   And He charged them sharply to tell no one about Him.
   And He began teaching them that the Son of Man must of necessity suffer many things and be tested and disapproved and rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be put to death, and after three days rise again.
   And He said this freely. And Peter took Him by the hand and led Him aside and then began to rebuke Him.
   But turning around His back to Peter and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying Get behind Me, Satan! For you do not have a mind on promoting what God wills, but what pleases man." Mark 8:27-33

Oh. Wow.

And that got me to thinking...

We don't always see or understand what God is doing.

Why God allows the things He does to enter into our lives...

Or the lives of those we love...

Or our country or His world.

Good ol' Peter thought and reasoned what he thought was obvious...

There's no way this is going to happen!

It doesn't make sense...

It's not reasonable...

And it sure won't get us where we want to be.

But God...

Always, there's a But God.

I know I can so often be like Peter...

I reason from what makes sense to me in my limited understanding.

I don't have the capacity to see the whole picture like God does.

There are countless times throughout history that God has used circumstances to promote His will...

Even though they were painful and horrific and appeared contrary to what seemed best.

God is God.

I need to let go of my anxiety and put my hope and trust in Him.

Yes, I will vote my conscience.

That is a privilege and a right I will not forsake.

But in the end, God raises up and brings down rulers...

For reasons only He sees and understands.

No matter what comes out of this election...

He will still be on the throne...

His promises will still stand sure...

And we will still be living in a fallen and broken world that desperately needs the glorious news that He lives and Reigns.

Because He loves us, He has a plan of redemption and hope.

Now, I may need to read Mark every night before I go to bed for awhile until these Truths are firmly lodged in my being...

But my eyes and my heart are fixed on Him...

And my hope is anchored in Him...

Where they should be.

And that's a place that brings rest and peace.

Be encouraged, dear one...

Our God reigns!

Bicycle photo credit: mkorsakov <aref="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24065796@N00/29060971966">Hope</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">(license)</a>