OPINION:
Dear Dr. E: Many of my friends and family were so caught up in this week’s election that it seems that half of them are going to suffer major bouts of depression and severe anxiety, no matter who wins. This just doesn’t seem right to me. How should Christians respond to what seems to be an overwhelming cloud of doom and gloom hanging over our nation and even over the Church? — TIRED OF THE NEGATIVITY FROM NASHVILLE
Dear Tired: Your question brings three biblical stories to mind that set the example for how we should respond to our daily circumstances, whether good or bad.
First, there is the story of Esther, who, as you know, was a young Jewish woman who rose to the ranks of the wife and queen of the Persian King Xerxes. Upon hearing of the king’s intent to execute all Jews, Mordecai, who was Esther’s cousin, approached her and pleaded that she intervene on behalf of her people. Esther expressed hesitation at first because she knew that doing what Mordecai asked could result in her own death. Mordecai responded to Esther with these now famous words, “If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place… [But] who knows but that you have come to your position for such a time as this?” As a result, Esther rose to the challenge, approached the king, and her people were spared. The moral of this story is that God is sovereign, and He has chosen all of us “for such a time as this.” This is our time, this is our place, and we need to follow Esther’s lead and just do our jobs. If we fail to do so, God will accomplish His plan without us, but why not be obedient and become a key player in the victory?
Second, we have the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis. You likely know this one, too. As the result of what the Bible presents as the poster child of sibling rivalry, Joseph’s brothers secretly sell him into slavery in Egypt and then deceive their father, Jacob, into believing that Joseph is dead. Years later, after Joseph rises through the ranks of the Pharaoh’s administration, Joseph’s brothers travel to Egypt in search of famine relief and are stunned to find themselves standing before the very brother that they sold to slave traders decades earlier. Fearing Joseph’s retribution, they beg for mercy. And here we are reminded of Joseph’s famous response. Rather than seek revenge, he looked his brothers in the eye and said: Don’t worry about it, “What you intended for evil, God intended for good in order to accomplish a day like this.” The moral of the story of Joseph is clear. Again, God is sovereign. He will accomplish His plan. This is our time, this is our place, and even in the midst of evil, He will win. This is our day, and we just need to do our jobs with confidence and courage.
Finally, when we are talking about how to handle adversity, we cannot help but look to Job as our quintessential example. The lesson of Job’s life is pretty clear in the book, which carries his name. Job lost everything. He lost his family, he lost his wealth, he lost his health. His life had become nothing but one crisis after another. If anyone had a reason to simply “curse God and die,” it was Job. But here’s the thing: after one crisis, on top of another, he does the exact opposite. Rather than descend into despair, Job doubles down on his faith and literally says at the end of the book, “Though God slay me, yet will I worship him!” The message here is the same as that of Esther and Joseph. God is sovereign. He will have His day. Even when things are ugly, our job is simply to recognize that God is God, and we are not.
Candidly, for Christians, it really doesn’t matter whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris wins. What matters is that we remember the words of Mordecai, Joseph, Job, and finally, those of Saint Paul: “All things work together for the good, for those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose.”
So, tell your family and friends who know Christ to stop worrying about it! It will be okay. As my friend Jim Garlow says, “What a wonderful time to be alive!” This is our time, this is our place, and we have been chosen for such a time! It will all work together for the good in the end! Why? because Jesus himself promised us that the very gates of hell will not prevail against his Church!
If you are seeking guidance in today’s changing world, Higher Ground is there for you. Everett Piper, a Ph.D. and a former university president and radio host, takes your questions in his weekly ’Ask Dr. E’ column. If you have moral or ethical questions for which you’d like an answer, please email askeverett@washingtontimes.com and he may include it in a future column.
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