Prayer In Times of Turmoil and Uncertainty Like The US Election

US ELECTION

Well, for days there’s been little else on the news than the presidential election in United States.  First the endless campaigning and dueling messages and the pundits offering this opinion and that about battleground states and paths to 270 electoral college votes.  Then there was the delay as the mail-in advance ballots in several states were counted.  As I prepare this blog the outcome is still in question. 

We are encouraged as we remember that God is in control and that He allows and uses all things because everything is under His ultimate authority.

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  Romans 13:1

God does things for many reasons.  I don’t believe that we are puppets and that the votes people cast in United States have no effect.  I just believe that God is working in the background to bring about His purposes – through both good and bad choices.  I don’t know who the best president would be at this time – but I know that God will work with anyone who will work with Him so a nation can be blessed.  God will even sometimes use those who are evil to bring about His purposes.  There are many examples of this in the Old Testament and in history. 

What gives me peace and comfort today is the fact that above and beyond all human governments in the world today is the government of God.  Our loving and faithful God is the king over all.  We celebrate Him and His loving authority today.  Psalm 95 reminds us:

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!  Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.  Psalm 95:1-7

Lord we can’t say it better than that.  We are joyful today because You are the rock of our salvation in the middle of tumultuous times.  Nothing gives us more peace today than knowing that You are a great God and a great king above all gods. 

The writer of the Psalm uses creation to remind us that everything on earth is in Your control and that includes upheaval in political systems, troubles caused by acts of terror as we’ve seen in various countries this past week, and troubles that are experienced during the time of this pandemic.  We call out to You for help today.  We give thanks to You because we know You are watching and listening and calling out to us, promising that if we will turn to You and seek You that You will hear us and will forgive us and will heal our land. 

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

We come back to this verse because the promise is so powerful.  You care.  You will act.  You will forgive.  You will heal.  You will set right.

And Lord, no matter what the turmoil is and how long it lasts as people seek their own solutions rather than seeking You, we know that ultimately the rule of Jesus is coming and will be revealed. Jesus who gave up everything for us, who died in our place for our sin and was raised to life again –

God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2:9-11

Praise God for this amazing hope.  Help us to fill our hearts and minds with these truths today and live in great peace.  Amen