Wisdom instructs us to plan for the days to come. Proverbs Six gives us the example of the ant, which stores up for the future. We plan ahead in an economic and material sense. It’s wise to grow a savings account. It’s wise to fill the bathtub before an impending hurricane. It’s wise to eat healthy now for a healthy future. But it is also wise to spiritually and emotionally gird ourselves for the days ahead. This is particularly true in an election season. More specifically, we must gird ourselves for the morning after the election.
Americans aren’t the only ones with significant elections this year. While millions of the world’s citizens do not have a voice through a vote, millions do. No democracy is the same. Each country has different rules and processes. And each voter anticipates the outcome with great expectation. As Christians, whether we live in America’s democracy or another democracy, we can intentionally prepare ourselves for the post-election season.
Gird Your Loins
The idea of “girding the loins” comes from Exodus. With belts tightened to tuck in their long tunics, shoes fastened to walk with haste, and staffs ready to steady their steps, the Hebrews were prepared to leave Egypt in haste and unhindered. The intent of God’s specific instructions to the Hebrews as they observed the first Passover was clear– be ready for action because your salvation is at hand (Exodus 12:11).
Thousands of years later, Jesus spoke to his “little flock.” The salvation of the Jews from Egypt paved the way for the salvation of Jews and Gentiles alike through the cross of Christ. This new body of saved ones were to be ready for action, loins girded, as they waited for Christ’s second coming. “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning” (Luke 12:37). To be dressed for action is to be girded, equipped and ready to address the task at hand.
But what kind of action? What kind of task? In this Christian life, as Jesus tells the story, the Master is physically away. While his servants are waiting, they don’t fill his absence with a new master, a new prophet, apostle, leader, or teacher. He is away, but he left his followers with his commands. We, like those early followers, have been given everything we need for life and godliness in the here and now (2 Peter 1:3). In the words of Dick Lucas, our lives are “governed by the future that hasn’t yet happened and by that which I can never see– the invisible.” We cannot see our Master, but the instructions of our unseen Master should never be overshadowed by the pressing political issues of today.
Jesus is always our first Master, and our First Example. He came to serve, not to be served, and ultimately to give his life as a ransom for many. There is no more ransom to be paid, but he is still our example in service. We serve in his name for his glory. In a practical sense, this means we must prepare to actively serve when we feel least inclined to do so. In the days following the election, we must make concerted, intentional plans to serve in our churches and communities. We must be an active, visible, peace-nurturing presence in our homes, churches, neighborhoods and online. Much as we saw with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene when Christ followers mobilized for sacrificial service in action, when uncertainty prevails, the peaceful presence of Christ’s people in service should be an overwhelming reality.
Gird Your Mouth
God is good. His goodness is not validated or affirmed at some deeper level because a particular candidate won or lost. He was just as good and faithful and true before the election as after. He has no gradations of goodness, no shifting in his character that we should trust him more or less after an election.
While we wait we must gird– prepare– our mouths. We must be slow to speak and slow to anger. Slow to post and slow to retweet and share. Patience can only be learned through practice. No person knows the outcome of the election. The outcome will unfurl over the course of hours and likely days, maybe weeks. The ultimate outcome may or may not align with the polls. As American society curates more and more to those subsisting on on-demand satisfaction and perceived certainty of future outcomes, waiting patiently for the certified result of an election is counter-cultural. That’s okay. Christians are counter-cultural people.
Gird Your Heart
Just before Jesus told his flock to be dressed for action, he talked about the condition of their hearts. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also“ (Luke 12:34). If the heart has misplaced treasure, those dressed for action will misplace their action.
The loss of treasure wherever it is placed leads to fear. This is why Jesus prefaced his talk of heart treasure with fear not. “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). Does God’s good pleasure change with an election? Is His kingdom hindered? Not one iota. Jesus has a command for those who fear the loss of their earthly treasure– sell it or give it away (Luke 12:33). We have moneybags, but they are not of this world. They are in a future glory, untouchable by any uncertainty in this life. Our hearts are at peace in the tumult because they are set on eternity.
Gird Now
In a practical sense, how can we prepare for our tomorrows? Here’s a useful exercise. Fill in the blank with the different candidates: “If _________ wins, I will ____________, because _____________.” Then commit to this: “If ________ wins, we will praise the Lord, because He is good. We will be a faithful, serving, visible, peace-seeking presence in our community because we serve a good Master.”
Post-election, there will be hand wringing, mud slinging, insult ringing, fallacy breeding, identity clinging voices that vie for your mind’s attention, your heart’s devotion and your hand’s action. We don’t need to wait for the results with dread and bated breath. We can breathe deeply and rest in God’s character now, before the results are known, because God has revealed who he is. That is far more meaningful than the revelation of who will be the next President.
will travel with kids 