We all probably woke up this morning and at some point checked the news to see who won the election . . . and we are still waiting! This uncertainty can cause much anguish and worry, but it doesn’t have to. Yes, no matter who you are, your choice still might or might not win (except those that voted for Kanye. Sorry, no path to victory there.) Yet I have a peace that this world cannot understand. I know we are supposed to say that as Christians. We are supposed to know that God is on the throne, and He is. But often that does not trickle down or pour down into our everyday lives. This time, more than past election, it has for me, and I believe it is because of God’s Word. Let me explain. We have been teaching through the book of Daniel at our church and that has forced me to be saturated more than I normally would be in both examples and teaching of God’s sovereignty and ultimate control of history. You just can’t study and immerse yourself in Daniel (and other wonderful passages of God’s authority) and hold on to paralyzing worry. If you believe God’s Word, you can’t live in that apprehension. Yes, half of us will be disappointed and we all prayerfully will stay involved and work to be salt and light, but worry and anxiety? No way. Angst and combativeness? No way. As we wait for the results, allow these words from Daniel, all of these words, weight on you and lift your soul.
1:2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. . .
1:9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs,
2:20-23 Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”
2:44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever,
2:47 The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.”
4:3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation.
4:34-35 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”
5:26-28 This is the interpretation of the matter: MENE, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; TEKEL, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; PERES, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
6:26-27 I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.”
7:9-10 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.
7:13-14 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
7:26-27 But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end. And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
10:18-19 Again one having the appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me. 19 And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”
11:32b but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.
12:1 At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.
So as a child of God and as a citizen of the everlasting kingdom with the everlasting King, I go out in peace today. I will be cheerful and seek ways to share the good news of Jesus. I will not worry or be devastated or elated because my hope is not in politics. I will love my family and minister to the best of my abilities. I will not be shocked regardless the results because I know we live in a fallen Genesis 3 world that needs Jesus. Whoever wins doesn’t change that. Really, nothing eternal has actually changed, even in the uncertainty. I am at peace.
