Fear and Faith

Well, it’s been a week since the 2016 elections, and what a week! Even Oprah got clobbered when she suggested that everyone take a breath amidst it all!

If you were a Trump supporter and a Republican, you’ve been cheering about the victory, and are looking toward the future with hope. If you had your heart set on a Clinton win, you may be among the thousands of people who have been wringing their hands in fear, experiencing sleepless nights, or cheering more for the demonstrations that have taken place.

Admittedly, there is a liberty for demonstrations in this country; people are free to protest and express their displeasure, but it crosses over into something else when businesses are vandalized, buildings set on fire, and people’s lives are jeopardized on our highways. Then it just becomes a license to do whatever destruction we want.

In 1Peter 2:16 we are encouraged to live as free people, but that we are not to use that freedom as an excuse to do evil. Unfortunately, a lot of people on both sides of the campaign have done this these past days – but certainly not with the endorsement of their candidates.

Lets face it, fear makes people crazy. If we’re afraid of something, our imagination can run wild. We can very quickly envision the worst case scenario – escalating our fears til we’re out of control.

What our fear reveals to us though, is where we have placed our faith. If we have put our faith in Wall Street, we will be afraid when the market takes a dive. If we have put our faith in the government, or a specific candidate, we will be afraid when a program is cut, policy decisions are made, or the other candidate wins.

If we place our faith in anything that can alter or change, we will certainly live with fear.

There is only one way to look at this election, at our country, and at the stability of our own lives:  to see that we have a mighty, faithful God, whose authority is above every authority on earth, and in whose loving hands lies our destiny.

The people who know this have had hope and peace these past days as they have had in every election, whether the outcome was what they wanted or not.

There is only one unchanging, stable place to put our faith, and that is in a good God who loves us. Believe He is in control, and that this election was not a surprise to Him. Believe He loves this nation and hears the prayers of the people to bless America.

There is a plan for the next four years that doesn’t belong to any candidate, and no matter who got elected, it will be the purposes of God that prevail. 
 
Jesus said, ““Fear not. Only believe.”

Fear must not rule.

Faith must triumph.

Give peace a chance.

Kay
www.confidentconflict.com