Election Night: Where is Your Hope Found?

    To really kick off this blog, I decided to start with a relevant topic. Okay, maybe "relevant" is an understatement-- let's be real here, this has been screamed into our ears for well over a year now. It's been beaten into our heads over, and over, and over.... but alas, here we are, the final stretch (well, at least until the next election) of this presidential madness. Are you tired of it? I know I am. I'm sure many of us are just ready for this thing to be done with already. Before I really get into the meat of this, I'd like to apologize beforehand for how messy this might seem-- this is my first real blog entry, and I'm still trying to figure some things out. So, forgive me if this is complete mess. Anyways. Let's get back to it. 
     Of course, lots of people are incredibly anxious about the election. Terrified, even. To many, it feels as if the fate of the entire world rests upon the shoulders of the next president. It's life or death-- at least, that is how so many seem to be treating it, their hope hinging almost entirely on these men. Might I just say that this is an absolutely miserable and hopeless way to live? To place one's trust entirely in a man-- a human being-- is beyond foolish. To trust the creation rather than the Creator is one of the greatest mistakes you could ever make. 
     My dear friends in Christ, let me remind you of where our hope ought to be. In Biden? In Trump? Kanye??? Heavens, no! These are mere men, human beings made in the image of God, just like you and I. To trust in man would be a grave mistake. While they may hold certain government powers, they are just as we are. Human. Beings. And in the grand scheme of things, what exactly can man do? Can a human being save your soul? Certainly not. "Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation." - Psalms 146:3. Has your hope been hinging on princes? On presidents? On mere man? 
     Let me hit you with another one. "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man." - Psalms 118:8. Where exactly has your hope, your trust been in lately? Who or what have you been taking refuge in? The creation, instead of the Creator? Might I just plead with you, my friends, to place your hope in our dear Lord Jesus, and not these temporary and mortal men? Of course, don't read me wrong-- it's not wrong to have some level of hope or trust in authority, BUT what is wrong is to have your entire hope completely reliant on them, to elevate them to some level of "godhood." God Himself sets up rulers and authority for our sake, for society's sake. It is a good and natural thing to have law, and order. But when our entire lives begin to revolve around these leaders, so much to the point where we feel as if all hope is reliant on whether or not they win, well, then we have a problem. 
     The only One deserving and worthy of our complete hope and trust is God. He made us after all, and through Him all things exist. He loves us, so much so that He sent His one and only beloved Son to die for our sins that we might have eternal life through Him (John 3:16). Wouldn't you trust someone who literally DIED for you? Someone that lived and gave their life so that you might find yours? "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation." - Isaiah 12:2. Trust in the Lord! He alone is our hope, our salvation, our peace, and joy. 
     Perhaps one of the most comforting reminders I have been given during these times is that ultimately God is in control, and always will be. He is not surprised by anything, nothing takes Him by surprise. He knows all, sees all, past, present and future. We are reminded of this truth-- "(God) changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings..." - Daniel 2:21. Yes. God is indeed in control, and He Himself sets up our leaders. We can trust Him and His plan, we can know what whatever may happen, it is completely in God's control. Even when things do seem confusing, and perhaps even frightening, may we remind ourselves of Jesus' promise. "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand." - John 13:7.  
     As measly human beings, we have an incredibly limited scope of view. Sure, we have the internet and all of that fancy smancy junk, but overall, our view of things is very, VERY limited. We can't see every little detail. We can't see the future. We can't see what is going on behind the scenes. So, it is incredibly foolish of us to think we understand what is going on at all when all we have are bits and pieces. Bits and pieces of things that our human eyes can see.  What are we compared to God? A mere fleck of dust in the great expanse that is eternity, that's for one. We are not God. We don't know the things He does, the plans He has. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord." - Isaiah 55:8. Who could even fathom such a thing, the thoughts of God? Certainly not us. Definitely not us.
     So, in short, reminding ourselves that we can't see the full picture is important. But who can? Can the next president? No, no. God can. And He is the one who is in charge, who has the ultimate authority. And whatever may happen, may we remind ourselves that in the end, God is the one who wins. While we may have hard times and dark days, let's not be discouraged. Rather, encourage yourselves in the Lord, remind yourselves of the ETERNAL hope He has given us-- the hope He has called us to! Do not become hopeless like the world has. No, cling to your hope, your TRUE hope-- Jesus Christ, our Lord, our Savior, our Friend. There is so much more to life than this world, and all of the troubles it heaps on us. 
      If you don't know God, if you haven't embraced Jesus as your Savior, I URGE you to change that today. Run to Christ. He is waiting for you with open arms. Find your hope in Him. Check out the "How To Know God" section for more details.

Have a wonderful week my friends-- keep praying, and keep on walking with the Lord. Do not be discouraged. Trust in the Lord your God.

God bless you and your families!

"I have said these things to you that in ME, you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." - John 16:33