God Is Still on His Throne: The Freedom to Not Fear Choice
I am the worst decision-maker. I like to think my indecisiveness comes from an easy-going personality, but that isn’t always the case. Sometimes I put off making a decision because I fear making the wrong choice. What if this one decision makes the rest of my life miserable forever?!?! Dramatic, I know. But, sometimes this is my reality.
This has possibly been the craziest election season I’ve ever been through in my 35 years on earth as an American. Don’t worry, I’m not getting political! You don’t need my opinion on who I think you should vote for and you don’t need to know who I voted for (early voting for the win!).
The resounding emotion about this election I see flooding my social media is fear. Everyone seems afraid-on both sides. Both sides fear that if the other candidate wins, our country will be destroyed forever.
If you are a follower of Jesus, you do not have to fear. Our Almighty God is on His throne today and He will still be on His throne tomorrow. Nothing happens on this earth that does not pass through His hands first. He knows who will win the election. He knows who our next leader is going to be and He established their rule.
"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God."
Romans 13:1
As believers who live in a democracy, we have a unique position. We’ve been given the freedom to choose our leaders. Our free will somehow intertwines with God’s sovereignty to place people in leadership. There are consequences to our choices, so I understand the fear. But, God is bigger than our choices. He is the Redeemer of our choices. Our choice doesn’t have the final say-the Almighty God does.
"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."
Proverbs 19:21
Throughout the Bible, we see God’s people making good and bad decisions. We see good, godly leaders coming to power and we see evil leaders coming to power. Through it all, God always preserves His people and does what is best for their spiritual growth.
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."
Romans 8:28-29
He protects and provides. He is in control. He is more powerful than any form of government.
I think about our brothers and sisters who live in other nations-nations where they have no freedom, but must make hard choices to follow Jesus despite threats of heavy fines, imprisonment, torture, and death. I wonder what they think of American Christians. Do they think we are imprisoned by our freedom and comforts? They face a fear of evil. We face a fear of our own choices.
But, God has not given us a spirit of fear. It’s OK to FEEL fear-it’s a real, raw emotion. We have to ask ourselves-is this fear consuming us? Am I making choices based in fear? If we are, we are not living the life of freedom God longs for us to live. A life of freedom, where we face our fears knowing He is on His throne, He has the last word, and He loves His children abundantly beyond all we can ask or imagine -no matter the circumstances.