Fret Not Thyself
This morning we took our youngest son with us on a field trip to go vote. I thought he might be bored with the experience but he seemed pretty engaged. He checked my ballot against his mother’s to make sure I voted correctly! As vicious an arena as politics can be, I’m thankful for the opportunity to peacefully participate in selecting our representatives.
Today will be filled with commentary and prognostications. Depending on the voices you listen to you will either hear doom and despair or talk of renaissance and revival. Many of us indeed will be especially keen to find out certain election results, particularly with regard to which party will control the houses of Congress. The problem with the rhetoric out there is that there is a grain of truth to it all. Elections do matter. Policies do influence our daily lives. The government officials we elect have the power to implement policy that can bring about great human flourishing or conversely great human suffering. That’s why people are so passionate about these things. The choice between a pro-abortion candidate and a pro-life candidate is significant. Morally, this question and others are not benign matters to which Christians should be indifferent. However, the kingdom of God in no way depends on who is elected today.
For the follower of Jesus, God’s rule does not depend on who rules on Capitol Hill. This brings me great peace. It’s not that this election doesn’t matter; it does. It’s just that this election isn’t ultimate; God’s kingdom is: “His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation” (Daniel 4:34b).
Psalm 37 gives us some great practical steps to walk out to today:
“Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness….Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself, it tends only to evil” (Psalm 37:1-3; 8).
I’m grateful today that my heart doesn’t have to be filled with worry. I’m grateful today that God is on His throne. I’m grateful today that Jesus is Lord. And I’m grateful those things will be true tomorrow just the same!