Before a vote people speculate about who will win an election. Commentators and commoners alike discuss opinions about what it takes to get a victory. Candidates and parties won’t acknowledge how they’ll respond if they lose, but we all know one side wins and one loses.
Google “How stressed are people about the election” and you’ll learn that several months before voting began, 68% of adults said they were stressed out by it all. Lots of medical and psychological recommendations resulted, including tips for those with bonafide election stress disorder.
Election season any time is a lot to process, but this year takes the cake. People have suffered the loss of friendships, optimism, faith, and peace. Rather than allowing an ugly election to hijack our peace and leave us counting our losses, it helps me to simplify. I’m sharing my 6 easy steps for winning an election with you.
Real winners aren’t the ones who take an election, but the ones who don’t let an election take them.
Listen –
Understanding comes through listening. “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere,” (James 3:17). If looking for impartial information we can rely on, God’s word can be trusted. “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice,” (Proverbs 12:15). Our willingness to listen leads to learning.
Learn –
If we want to discern how to participate in the care of our community, we are wise to seek and get knowledge. “The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out,” (Proverbs 18:15). By asking questions of respected people and reading from reputable sources, we acquire knowledge to guide our prayers.
Pray –
The Bible cautions that a lot of information leads to a lot of pride. Keeping up with the rapid rate of changing facts and news has the potential to overwhelm our capacity to process it all in a productive way. Prayer is a way to sort through the insurmountable content to ask for God’s help and direction leading to hope for it all.
“Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long,” (Psalm 25:4-5). An election presents an opportunity to pray for our leaders, our nation, our church, our community, our family, and our self. How sad when an election becomes an abyss where hope is lost. In prayer, we remember God is our help.
Help –
God helps us so we are able to help others. We take action guided by God based on truth provided by God. Our responsible citizenship in the our home country is a helpful contribution to our community. “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith,” (Galatians 6:10). Making a difficult decision through listening, learning, and praying is one way we help our community establish and keep order and peace.
Concede –
Once an election passes and victory is declared, we expect a concession speech. We all concede. We yield, but not to a person who gets more votes or more power or more privilege. We concede to God’s authority over all things in earth and heaven, including all elections and positions. “For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God,” (Romans 13:b). When outcomes come out, we cooperate with God’s authority to put leaders in place.
Trust –
Cooperation with what God allows on earth comes from our trust in His authority in heaven and earth. “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you,” (Isaiah 26:3). Peace doesn’t hinge on the outcome of an election. Regardless of outcomes, trust in God steadies the mind and produces complete peace.
Elections and their outcomes are temporary. Real winners aren’t the ones who take an election, but the ones who don’t let an election take them.
