Last night I watched midterm election results, and along
with many other people across the country, I cheered when my preferred
candidates won and groaned when my preferred candidates lost. It’s hard to
detach from our preferences for candidates who share our values and priorities when
it’s clear that they are superior to those of the other side!
As with so much else in life, elections provide an
opportunity to learn that it is not our desires that matter, because God’s
plans will prevail:
and defeats the plans of the peoples.
The designs of the
Lord stand forever, the plans
of God’s heart from age to age. —Ps 33: 10-11
If racist, sexist, or corrupt candidates are elected to
office, they will bring to light this dark side of our country’s character and help us heal by choosing and fighting for alternate values of
inclusion and compassion. It is not our place to judge that a particular
outcome is good or bad but to act as Jesus called us to do—to love God and love
our neighbor—and then leave the rest to God, who says:
I
know well the plans I have in mind for you,
plans for your welfare, not of woe,
plans to give you a future full of hope.—Jeremiah 29: 11
May our post-election prayer echo that of the writer of psalm
33: “May your faithful love be upon us as we hope in you, O Lord.”
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