I've been avoiding this...really I have.

I really, really hate to go here but, I swear, I can't help it. This has been on my mind for weeks. Politics.

For all who read this, all who celebrate or argue or complain around watercoolers or cubicles, all who suffer through the inevitable tsunami of e-mails that will start going around today, I have one thing to say: It doesn't matter.

Whether you consider yourself victorious or defeated after the presidential election, let me assure you, you didn't have alot to do with it. The impending doom or prosperity of our nation is completely unaffected by the president-elect. And, yes, I believe this without question. The only thing we voted for was the target of the jokes and which party laughs at them.

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. --(Romans 13:1)

This doesn't mean that God endorses candidates. It means He has a greater plan in mind. And it means He is in control, still. He sees time all at once. He sees the beginning and end and He sees His plan for this world, not just this country, as it pertains to His will.

Joseph submitted to the Egyptians. Daniel submitted to the Babylonians. And Jesus submitted to the Romans. You won't find much godliness in those governments, but they existed as God designed for His higher purposes, and, ultimately, for His glory.

Jesus told Pilate, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above." (John 19:11) So, relax. It's still a two-party system. His party and everyone else.

Open your eyes

Then the king of Aram sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city. When the servant of Elisha got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked. "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. --(2 Kings 6:14-17)

Sometimes we fear what we see because we don't know what it is we aren't seeing. Clear as mud? What I mean is, Elisha's servant was afraid because he saw the Aramean army surrounding the city. He knew that they had been sent there because the king of Aram wanted Elisha dead. But Elisha wasn't the least bit scared. He knew that God had his back. He simply prayed for his servant's eyes to be opened so that he could see the army of God that was assembled around them. After this, Elisha prayed for God to blind the enemy, which He did, and Elisha led them into the city where their sight was returned and they were captured. Voila! Happy ending.

I often fear things because of what I see. I was thinking about this today. What we see, and visualize, is frequently the source of our fears. But God doesn't dwell in our visualized world. He has other things going on; things we are unaware of. Faith, not sight, remember? We can't see His presence surrounding us and sometimes we can't feel it. But that doesn't make it any less "there." He is with us, ready to defend us. If we can't see that, then the real trouble is with our spiritual eyes.

Another thing I like in this passage is "those who are with us are more than those who are with them." This reminds me of 1 John 4:4 - the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. Some fears are real and justified. They lead to some of our most earnest prayers. I'm not suggesting we be flippant and casual about everything. But I am suggesting we pay a little more attention to what God sees instead of only what we see.

I think I just stepped on my own toes.