Peace in PoliticsНамуна

Trust your guide

Growing up, my family took regular road trips. We’d visit our grandparents for the holidays. We’d head out for much needed vacations at the beach or campground. In my younger years, I knew very little about the plan. I didn’t know the route we were taking, the stops we were planning, or even how long it would take to get to our destination. I trusted that my parents had the details all figured out.

As I grew older, my desire to be informed and consulted grew as well. I wanted to know exactly how long the trip would take, where we were going to eat along the way (the most important question), and the plan upon arrival. As my preference for understanding and control grew, so did my anxiety and frustration. The plan often didn’t match my preferences. And things often didn’t go according to the plan. The trips themselves hadn’t really changed. What changed was my perspective.

In this age of 24/7 news and social media proliferation, we ache to know exactly what’s going on. We long to feel like we’re in control of our own lives. But if the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that a huge percentage of what happens in this world is beyond our ability to influence. This truth can be incredibly unnerving, frustrating, and simply scary. But when we see ourselves from a kingdom-minded perspective, it can also be incredibly freeing.

Consider David’s words from Psalm 23:

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

For you are with me.”

This is not the prayer of a man striving for control. It is the prayer of a man who recognizes the one in control. It is the prayer of a man who has learned to trust his guide. So, in a culture that values independence and self-sufficiency, God is asking us to be wholly dependent on his strength and provision. In a culture that values the strong and the bold, God is asking us to delight in our weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:10). And, in a culture with endless information at their fingertips, God is asking us to seek first the wisdom that comes from him.

The political season can be disorienting. For many of us, it may even feel a lot like the valley of the shadow of death described by David. But God has not left us alone. Even in the valley, we have a trustworthy Shepherd who will protect us along the way. He will lead us to the other side.

The inauguration will take place on January 20. The ceremony will usher in the next four years of the presidency. Regardless of who recites the Oath of Office that day, we can walk confidently knowing that our ultimate guide is not a Republican or Democrat. He is a Good Shepherd.

My hope for you—for us—is that we would accept God’s invitation into green pastures, still waters, and peace in the midst of politics.

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