Talking Back to Anxiety and Depression Over the Election

av

America’s Savior will come neither through the ballots nor on Air Force One… but when we open the door
–The Apocalypse 3:20-21

LEER EN ESPAÑOL | READ IN ENGLISH | LES PÅ NORSK

A little over two years ago the leftist Gustavo Petro won the Presidential election in Colombia. Most evangelical Christians went bananas. This HAD to be the end.

I then wrote a piece in Spanish to try to calm some of them down. Paul the Apostle had suffered worse. So had the early church. Persecution and martyrdom during the Roman emperors Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and last, but not least, Nero. Still, Paul would have us pray for our kings and governors, no matter their political leanings.

Three years ago, by then the eight years of conservative and somewhat Christian rule over Norway came to an end. Evangelicals were distraught and couldn’t fathom how we could go on with a left-wing government leaning into Communism. (I wasn’t really that horrible, but that’s what many opined.) Now, I tried even to console some back then… to no avail.

Last night Donald Trump won. I know more than one Christian who’s up in the air with joy, and not too few who are deeply distressed today.

Time to remember what the Bible says.

Whatever the election outcome, someone’s candidate would eventually win, and someone else’s candidate would lose.

Now, we’re manipulated into thinking every election is the most consequential ever. And you may feel depression and anxiety over the outcome of the vote and the direction the country will take.

What can the believer do in the face of those emotions?

Understand that your emotions are not due to the election outcome. Instead, they are due to your beliefs about the election. Your mind is likely filled with false beliefs about the election that are tempting you to worry and despair. You need to dispute those false beliefs with Biblical truth. Changing your beliefs will then change your emotional responses.

Here are some typically false beliefs and verses you can use to talk back to them.

  1. “Only my candidate can save the country!”
    I, even I, am the Lord,
    and apart from me there is no savior.
    (Isaiah 43:11 NVI).
  1. “If my candidate doesn’t win, then God isn’t in charge.”
    In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water
    that he channels toward all who please him.
    (Proverbs 21:1 NIV).
  1. “Nothing is more important than politics.”
    Y Jesús les dijo:
    —Denle, pues, al césar lo que es del césar y a Dios lo que es de Dios.
    (Mark 12:17 NIV).
  1. “I hate my country.”
    ”Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
    (Jeremiah 29:7 NIV).
  1. “If things don’t go our way, we’ll have to fight!”
    “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
    ( Philippians 3:20 NIV)

    “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
    (John 18:36 NIV).

  1. “I absolutely loathe the President and the Party in power.”
    1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
    (1 Timothy 2:1-2 NIV)
REFRAMED. Some liberals changed theology overnight as their not so preferred candidate won the election. Now, don’t bless any ruler, is their mantra, obviously in clear opposition to Paul (1Tim 2:1-2). Image: NakedPastor.
  1. “If my candidate loses, I have no hope.”
    20 We wait in hope for the Lord;
    he is our help and our shield.
    21 In him our hearts rejoice,
    for we trust in his holy name.
    22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
    even as we put our hope in you.
    (Psalm 33:20-22 NIV).