Faith Over Fretting: God Isn’t Surprised by Election 2016

November 9, 2016

This coming Friday was supposed to have been the start of our family camping weekend. Anticipating chilly bright-stared nights while sitting around the campfire, followed by the wonderful aromas of coffee, bacon, and eggs—that Jerry would be preparing—greeting us in the coolness, maybe even the frostiness of the morning, brought much excitement for what was ahead. That was until yesterday, when I read with much disappointment, that because of the drought Middle Tennessee is experiencing, no open fires where we were going, are allowed. No campfire at night. No fun stories. And no delicious smells in the morning. No. No. No.

Up to this week and for the past three months, Jerry and I have been swamped. Moving with lightning speed from one deadline to the next, we have not had one second to get prepared for what we thought would be a relaxing weekend away from all the pressures of the day-to-day here at home. But nonetheless, we were ready to jump headlong into the adventure.

For the past two nights, with toothpicks holding my all too exhausted eyes open, I have searched the internet trying to find, to no avail, the right camping tent. Starting to get really nervous because, without one, it would be most unpleasant shivering in the cold, I opened the website for the campground only to find that all my worry was for naught. God knew all along this camping trip was not going to happen; that camping without a campfire would be pointless.

And isn’t that the way it usually is? We get ourselves all tied up in knots for no reason. We worry over things that either don’t matter, that we don’t have control of, or that won’t even happen. The Bible calls this fretting. And we do it all too well. In every arena of life. From the small to the large, we try to be in charge. And when we can’t, we worry.

This year’s election has been, to say the very least, a doozy. From the media to Facebook, from radio to television, this year’s race has been fought over, analyzed, compartmentalized, and dissected ad nauseum. Insults have been hurled. Words from all sides have been spun, so much so, that even those spinning them no longer know truth. It feels as if everything has been flipped upside down and inside out, becoming madness in the face of hopelessness.

But it isn’t.

It isn’t, because God is the I AM. There is categorically nothing that catches Him by surprise. He knew all along what was going to happen, who was going to win, and the chaos that would ensue. This morning He did not wake up exclaiming, “I didn’t know that would be the result!”

And this is true in every circumstance and for everyone, believers and for those who don’t know Him, alike. God knows, down to the smallest degree, every single thing. He is in control. And thankfully we are not. (See Job 38-42.)

And so we can rest in Him knowing that He is faithful and true—through our pain and what we don’t understand, our good moments and those we would rather not remember—He is there. Even now.

God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.

So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.

Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Interlude

A river brings joy to the city of our God,
the sacred home of the Most High.

God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
From the very break of day, God will protect it.

The nations are in chaos,
and their kingdoms crumble!

God’s voice thunders,
and the earth melts!

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude

Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
See how he brings destruction upon the world.

He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.

“Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude

-Psalm 46 (NLT)