God is in control!

From the heart of Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D. French poet Victor Hugo said, “And when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake.” The election is over and for many, it was a gut punch! It was shocking and upsetting. Now allow me to speak to my brothers and sisters in Christ who experienced this blow. The winner was not the one we hoped for. Regardless, we can go to sleep in peace. God is awake! He is not only awake, He is seated on His throne, reigning over the affairs of this earth with perfect wisdom and justice. For that reason, you can trust when this election didn’t turn out as you hoped. Here are biblical reasons why. God’s plans always prevail. Speaking to God, Job said, “I know that you [Lord] can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2). The psalmist reminds us, “The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations (Psalm 33:11). Also, we vote, but God ultimately appoints our leaders. Listen to what Paul teaches: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment” (Romans 13:1–2). Daniel reminds us that, “The Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men” (Daniel. 4:17). Thirdly, every ounce of power our leaders possess has been given to them by God. Recall the conversation between Jesus and Pilate. We read, “So Pilate said to him, ‘You will not speak to me?’ Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?’ Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above” (John 19:10–11). Lastly, God wants us to respect the authority of the office and pray for the leaders. Paul reminds us, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Timothy 2:1–2). God’s kingdom will not only withstand attacks from ungodly leaders, it will triumph. From Cyrus, the Babylonian king of the exile, to the baby-killing Herod, and the Christian-killing Nero, Christianity has never been bested, because our King’s power is not from this world. The Church whom Christ brought into being when He rose from the dead doesn’t depend on qualified human leaders for its success. Leaders come and leaders go. Governments rise and fall. Our God and His people live forever! Regardless of how the election turned out, you can trust that God is fully in control. He will use all things, even a leader we didn’t want, for our good and His glory. And, one day we’ll exchange our voter registration card for a passport, one that will take us to a new country, a better country, a country where every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Be encouraged!