One more day...

         I can hear the stirring notes from the musical, "Les Miserables," echoing in my brain: "One more day..."
         Oh mercy, praise God just one more day.   One more day and no more mud slinging, no more robo calls, no more piles of flyers, no more back-to-back ads slamming the other candidate, no more endless polls and political commentary.
         I don't mean to make light of all this (but it's either laugh or cry!), because clearly our nation's in trouble, and this old world is a mess.  But boy, there have been moments over the past few months when I've been nearly overwhelmed with discouragement and fear over all that's going on in our country and the vitriol and ugly words that have been hurled about.  It's tempting to throw your hands up in despair regardless of which side of the political spectrum on which you find yourself.  
         But here's the thing: despair is a sin.  Fear is a failure to trust God. And sticking our heads in the sand or lashing out in fury are NOT the responses of anyone who follows the Sovereign King who gave His life to redeem this fallen world.
         As I thought about tomorrow, the Lord suddenly brought this verse to mind: "This--THIS--is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Ps.143:24) And here's why we an rejoice--because God is still and forever on His throne, and nothing will ever change that.  Our hope is not in any political candidate or political system.  Our hope is in Christ alone. And nothing and no one will ever thwart His plans and purposes for His people.  That doesn't mean we won't endure plenty of hard times ahead, but it does mean He's fully in control and working all things out for our good and His glory.
         And here's my prayer: that God will bring healing to our land.  Oh how we need it.  That He will heal the divisiveness.  That He will replace the harsh, hurtful words with words of hope and healing.  That He will bring revival and restoration among His people.  And that believers will lead the way in shining the light and love of Christ in a dark world.
         No, that doesn't mean we all agree or acquiesce.  But it means we listen.  We seek to understand.  And we talk and share the Truth in love, remembering that those with whom we disagree are made in the likeness of God and are people Christ loves and for whom He suffered and died.  
          Just today, I read these words, and they speak powerfully to this moment:
          "I remember once hearing Bishop Whipple...utter these beautiful words: 'For thirty years I have tried to see the face of Christ in those with whom I differed.'  When this spirit actuates us we shall be preserved at once from a narrow bigotry and an easy-going tolerance, from passionate vindictiveness and everything that would mar or injure our testimony for Him who came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them."  (W.H. Griffith Thomas)
          Heavenly Father, please by Your infinite grace, enable us to see the face of our Savior in those with whom we disagree.  Help us to forgive as You forgive.  Help us love as You love.  Help us to serve as You serve.  Remind us anew that the ground is level at the foot of the cross, for we are all sinners saved solely by Your grace.  Thank You for the hope and promise of the Gospel--that we are far worse than we ever dared imagine, but we are also far more loved by You than we ever dared dream.  It's all, all, all grace, Lord.  Keep us humble.  Keep us grateful.  Keep us listening.  Keep us loving.  Keep us shining the Light of Christ--and never hiding it under a bushel--wherever we go, whatever we do, that the world may know how good and great You are.  Thank You, Father.  In Jesus mighty and merciful name we pray.  Amen.
          To God be the glory.