A Verse to Help Us Find the Way Forward

Note: This piece was originally posted on Nov. 2, the day before the presidential election.

When the host of a local radio talk show comes across something in the news that makes him scratch his head and wonder what on earth is happening to humanity, he refers to it as a “Stop the planet, I want to get off” moment.

I don’t listen to the show regularly, so I don’t know how often he’s been doing this in 2020. I do know that there has been no shortage of such moments this year; in fact, they seem to be happening with increasing regularity.

Leaving the planet might be tempting, but it obviously isn’t a realistic way to deal with all the troubling and/or ridiculous situations that seem to be overwhelming us right now.

Unfortunately, I don’t think anyone has found a guaranteed coping strategy that will get us through this week’s election and send us into the longer-term future with our fears in check and all our relationships intact.

I did, however, run across a verse the other day that might serve as a personal antidote to some of the angst and anxiety coursing through the world right now:

“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; Your rule is for all generations. The Lord is faithful in all His words and gracious in all His actions.” (Psalm 145:13)

There are aspects of God’s character that are solely and completely His, and then there are those that we are meant to emulate. His sovereignty, for example, falls squarely in the first category, while His holiness is a trait that the Bible instructs us to imitate. (See 1 Peter 1:15-16)

Psalm 145:13, which includes both types of divine attributes, provides a trustworthy road map as we make our way forward during these tense and uncertain times.

The first part of the verse provides much-needed eternal perspective: “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; Your rule is for all generations.”

This election is important, on every level. It most definitely will have consequences and repercussions, foreseen and unseen. But no matter what happens in the coming days and weeks, God remains the King of kings and Lord of lords, both now and forevermore.

Regardless of who wins any given race in this or any other election, He ultimately is the One in whom we must put our trust.

I don’t know about you, but I find that to be especially comforting right now.

Then, when we find ourselves wondering what our own personal (and perhaps public) response to all of this should be—at any given moment and in any given situation—the second half of Psalm 145:13 gives us a clear and concise model to follow: “The Lord is faithful in all His words and gracious in all His actions.”

God’s words can be trusted; they are the very definition of Truth. They bring life, not death. They bring healing, not cruel hurt. Even when they are hard to hear, they are spoken out of love, and only ever for our ultimate good.

His actions are compassionate, kind, merciful. He loves even when that love is not returned. He extends His grace without regard for merit or status.

This barely skims the surface of what it means to say God is “faithful in all His words and gracious in all His actions.” But as we think about how we should conduct ourselves in this tense political and cultural climate, I think it’s enough.

As much as it is humanly possible, we, too, should be faithful in our words and gracious in our actions.

Take good care, friends.

♥  Lois

P.S. I’m linking up this week with Purposeful Faith, #TellHisStory, InstaEncouragements, Recharge Wednesday, #HeartEncouragement, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth.

Photo by Esther Ware