Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. – John 14:27

“Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning.” – Dallas Willard

I tell most of my clients the same story.

I think I was playing intramural softball while a student at Auburn. It could’ve been when I was playing in a church league while in Seminary. I can’t remember. Regardless, I was playing the position where I felt the most comfortable – shortstop. A hard hit ground-ball was hit my way and I was able to backhand it, but I ended up on my back in the dirt. Without even thinking, I threw in the direction of first base and somehow got the hitter out. I never even got the chance to look at the first baseman before throwing the ball. Someone asked me, “How did you do that?!” I just smiled and said, “No idea.” I really didn’t know at the time. But now I know.

Practice.

I had spent so much time over the years – since I was a young kid – at shortstop, practicing a throw from that part of the field to the first baseman, that it was now natural. So even in a difficult situation like the one during that game, I could naturally make that play. That doesn’t mean I always would. But the practice made it possible. Practice may not make perfect, but does it make what we need to do in a given situation more natural.

The election season is almost always crazy. But this year is something else entirely. It seems like the nation is tearing itself in two. Anger and anxiety are the order of the day. And it’s everywhere. It seems like the country has lost its collective mind.

So how do Christians stay “sane” during this time? How do we not get mixed up in the craziness of it all? How do we stay faithful despite the chaos and circumstances? How do we experience peace apart from what is happening around us?

I actually believe we as a culture have practices and habits that lend themselves toward anxiety and anger. We “practice” worry and we “practice” anger throughout our days and so they become habits we instinctively live out. They become so much a part of our lives we don’t even notice them. They are natural.

But that does not have to be the case. We can form new habits through different practices so that peace becomes far more natural than it presently is. But it will require effort and it will not be easy. You will have to want the peace that Jesus offers more than anything.

Below are 8 practices you can do that will help you have more peace during this election season (and beyond). This is not an exhaustive list. And you do not have have to do all of these to move towards peace. But these will help you practice peace. And if you stick with them enough, instead of anxiety and anger during the election season, you will find peace more natural. These practices may not make you perfect but you just might find yourself living out the peace that “surpasses all understanding” in such a way that someone asks, “How did you do that?”

1. Minimize your news intake. The more news you watch, the more you are likely to think about the election. The problem is the news is not there to help you. Unlike Jesus, Who came to announce the good news of his kingdom, the news trades in bad news. All news sources are calculated to make you angry and anxious so you will click on or turn on whatever will continue the cycle of you being angry and anxious. Paul tells us, “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” That’s good advice in the days leading up to an election that has been and most likely will continue to be uncharacteristically ugly.

2. Limit your social media intake. You may be very good at not arguing on Facebook and Twitter. But let’s face it, sometimes someone says something so ridiculous, even if you show Olympic-worthy self control and say nothing to them, your blood still boils. Sometimes it’s a friend. Sometimes it’s a family member. And sometimes it is someone you do not even know – they only follow you because years ago they thought you were a famous Christian singer. Maybe that’s just me. Regardless, spend more time away form social media. Or if you struggle to stay away, don’t feel guilty about snoozing those people for 30 days.

3. Don’t talk politics if you don’t have to. This can be hard if only because every time people get together they feel like they have to talk about the election and politics. Politics for many is religion. And for others it’s sport. But you do not have to play or attend every argument or discussion about the election. Change the subject. Go to the bathroom. Or simply tell them you need a break from politics.

4. Surround yourself with like-minded believers. Find a group of people who are seeking the same peace you are. Then make a pact that you will not discuss the election for a period of time. Instead, talk about what God is doing in your life or in the lives of others. Or heck, talk about football and music and food. When you read the New Testament, it’s clear those followers of Jesus had to be careful. The Empire was not really their friend. In fact, the authorities were actively working against the Church. And yet, the letters we have are almost completely silent on the goings-on of politicians. Maybe we should be too.

5. Maximize your time in the Scriptures. The Scriptures have a way of reminding us God “removes kings and sets up kings.” The Bible is a window into a world very different than the one politicians and journalists sell us. It is a world where what is unseen is more important and lasting than the seen world. It is a world where Jesus reigns, grace is real power, and forgiveness is possible. Spend more time in the Scriptures than in the news and social media, so your mind is full of the unseen realities of The King and his Kingdom.

6. Remind yourself who is King. This is going to sound crazy but it’s time for you to put your phone to good use – I want you to ask Siri (and/or Alexa) to set an hourly reminder on your phone that is simply, “We have a King and a Kingdom.” Now you have a reminder throughout the day that Jesus is King and he has made us citizens of a kingdom that is not of this world. The news anchors totally ignore this kingdom and it’s politics of love, joy, and contentment whatever the circumstances. Hang up signs in your home. Whatever you do, surround yourself with reminders that you live in a real kingdom, and unlike the kingdoms of this world, his kingdom will never end.

7. Pray for those on “the other side.” If you have a side in this election, that means there are people on “the other side.” And those people may hate you and all you stand for. They may want to “cancel” you and they may think canceling you is right and good. They may call you names and want only harm to come to you. Pray for them anyway. Jesus was pretty clear on this when he said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” This command is not easy, but Jesus, Who knows more about this world and how to live in it better than anyone, would only tell us to do this if it was the best way to live in this world he created. So we should not be surprised if when we pray for those on “the other side,” we then find ourselves less anxious and angry and more joyous. This is the surest path to loving our “enemies.”

8. Fast and pray. I honestly don’t know of anything more effective in getting my whole self focused on Jesus in the midst of difficulty than fasting. And election seasons are always fraught with difficulty. But when I fast from food (which I love with the force of a thousand armies) I am reminded of how I need to “taste and see that the LORD is good.” Every time I feel those hunger pains and the steering wheel looks like a pizza, I have to ask myself if I am confident Jesus is better than food. Through fasting and prayer I have learned in a way I would have otherwise not known, there is a sustenance in following Christ the world knows nothing about. But you don’t have to fast from food. You can fast from social media, the news, TV – really anything, that if you do without it, the difficulty will direct you toward remembering the goodness of Jesus, our King.

May the peace of God guard our hearts and minds during this crazy election season.

1. The American church, so drunk on politics, it can conceive of nothing other than full celebratory support or ridicule and hatred, is in complete disobedience. The call to “Honor the Emperor” and pray “for kings and all those who are in authority” is a nonstarter. “We the people” has sunk so far down into our hearts that not only do we not want the kings of England, but we now only want the King of kings as a consolation prize if things do not go well here.

2. It breaks my heart every time I read about Betsie praying for the German pilots as they are bombing Betsie and Corrie’s hometown.

3. There is no passage or Scripture in the NT where Jesus, Paul, John, or anyone else heaps guilt on anyone else for their lack of evangelism. Go look. It’s not there. But the call to discipleship and make disciples is clear. Maybe if we lived a life that actually reflected the life of Jesus as followers of him, we would have to explain our actions and ideas to those who do not understand them. And this seems to be the picture in the New Testament. So I assume that if we seek to be disciples and make disciples, then maybe the end for which we aim in evangelism would be achieved and far more.

4. I could be wrong but my guess is that mot people watch political debates only to build up their arsenal of complaints so as to justify an already formed opinion.

5. Jesus offers a joy and a peace that cannot be touched by whatever it is you fear about politicians and their agendas.

6. I miss teaching and preaching.

7. Classical music forces you to listen differently than popular modern music. And I think that difference causes you to listen more actively . You hear patterns and ideas and sometimes whole stories in the music. Whereas in popular modern music those are handed to you ready-made.

8. My parents got married in a neighbor’s living room before my dad headed back to Germany. It was not instagramable and very little money was spent. And yet I have yet to know of a better and more beautiful marriage then theirs. So not much work on the wedding but a lot of work on the marriage would be a revolution I could get behind.

9. I keep seeing people say, “If you don’t vote, you can’t complain.” Paul says to “do everything without complaining and arguing.” I would assume that includes voting.

10. Memorization changes the furniture of your mind. And what you have memorized is what your thoughts will use to make sense of the world. So if you memorize the lines of movies and TV shows, that is the furniture of your mind. And if you memorize passages of Scripture, that will be the furniture of you mind. If will also help you make sense of what is real and unreal. What is meaningful and not. What is truly powerful and not.

1. One of the reasons we follow Jesus is he loved us with a love like no other. One of the ways we follow Jesus is to love others with a love like no other.

2. Just as discouragement takes on many forms and comes at us in many ways, the “cure” can be just as varied. Sometimes I need a hike. Sometimes I need extended times of prayer. At other times, time with my kids. Sometimes, time away from them! A sandwich, a cup of coffee, or a good nap can also help. I need this reminder – in his goodness God lavishes upon us many good things.

3. The reason we are so shocked about the news of Ravi Zacharias is our expectations for discipleship are so low.

4. Repentance, by logic, demands a desire for change. So if all of life is repentance as Luther said, then all of life should be a desire for change.

5. When I was in High School, I discovered punk rock music. The Ramones. The Clash. Man, once I heard The Clash, I thought I had discovered a sound I had been listening to all my life. I loved that raw sound and the palpable energy. I understood their frustrations and their way of looking at the absurdities of life. My parents were afraid. And I understood it then and even more now why. Music is powerful. And it can be dangerous. And this music was dangerous because it pushed against the conventional wisdom of the day. But there was not much for Robert and Wanda to fear. Even then as a kid I thought punk rock suited the message of Jesus more than Sandi Patty. Now as I approach the age of 49, more than ever, I still do. Jesus stands against the conventional ways of thinking and living these days. The world says put all your trust on the seen things: your 401K, your looks, elections, etc. Jesus says to trust in the unseen and pursue the unseen Kingdom of the heavens. Of course, punk thrived on anger and now anger is the status quo. So, maybe the most “punk rock” thing we can do these days is love our neighbor and be kind to them the same way Jesus did. Maybe the most “punk rock” thing we can do these days is obey him without fear of what the world thinks of us and what we lose in the following.

6. I teach a class (via zoom) through Dallas Willard’s Divine Conspiracy and I am seeing a theme I have never noticed in all my other readings: letting go of control and giving it to God. Whatever it is. Think about it. So much anger and anxiety and distrust and fighting and contempt come from an inability to trust God and let go of outcomes. this is true all way from parenting and marriage to elections and geopolitics.

7. A truncated gospel of only forgiveness of sins will inevitable lead to a church full of those who look for life in sports and politics. And those two will inevitably bleed over into each other.

8. Don’t you want a peace, a contentment, and a joy that is real and lived despite your circumstances?

9. Kindness is one of those few things enjoyed in the giving and in the receiving. And the more this is done, the more plentiful it becomes. But it is still often rare.

10. “What would you live like if you had died/And been reborn with a second chance to live?/Would you loose your fear of being dead/And be afraid of something else instead?” – Jon Foreman

I think about these lyrics all the time and I am pretty sure Jon is thinking about Colossians 3:3, which says, “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” I cannot stop thinking about that.

1. Be so caught up in the Kingdom of God, which cannot be shaken that people will accuse you of not caring about the kingdoms of this world.

2. I think it is good to say “no” to something that is not necessarily bad so that you will see the value of Jesus in the absence of that thing. The dearer that thing is, the more it will feel like a kind of death. This is why it is called “dying to self.”

3. Conservatives want freedom and therefore cannot hear the pleas of scientists regrading wearing masks. Liberals want freedom and cannot hear the pleas of scientists regarding when life begins. Our desire for freedom needs to be seen for the idolatry it is.

4. It is hard to receive and give grace.

5. One of the reasons the early church did not seem to care about politics and barely even mentioned the qualities or existence of governmental leaders and their oppressive policies is they were following a resurrected King of a real Kingdom. This may be hard for Christians in America to understand because we do not have Kings. But it is also harder for us because resurrection is just a consolation prize if this life is not going well.

6. Jesus understands this world better than anyone, since he created it. So it makes sense that the most sane way to live in this world is following him as we walk through this world by obeying his commands.

7. It was hard to be let go from a job I loved. It has been much harder to forgive those who let me go.

8. One of the beauties of homsechooling is there is no division between the instruction they receive as part of “school” and what they learn everywhere else. They are always being educated by us. And therefore it is natural to talk about what they are learning at any time. Education (teaching and learning) is always happening.

9. One of the best things I learned from my parents for my own marriage, and which now I counsel for other marriages, is the best thing you can do for your family is invest in your marriage. For the sake of your kids, invest time and energy in your marriage.

10. I love that in Romans 8, “intercession” keeps coming up. Imagine you are in a foreign land and you barely know the language. And something goes wrong and the authorities of that land are not happy with you but you have someone on your side who knows that place and it’s ways better than anyone. And they say to you, “I will not leave you. I will not forsake you. I will not stop interceding for you.”

1. If you are a follower of Jesus and you are in him and he is in you, then you have a King and Kingdom. A Kingdom that cannot be shaken. It will not end. There is no election, no politician, and no governmental machinations that can touch you. Not even 2020 can harm you. No virus. For you have already died and your life is hid with God in Christ. These are not words to merely make you feel better, they are the highest realities. In this hope we were saved. We hope for things we cannot see. What kind of person hopes for what they can see? Not us. We place all our hope in the unseen. And we wait for it with patience. Not like the politicos. Not like the activists that make demands. Not like the sloganeers. We wait with the peace that passes all understanding. Why? Because we are safe.

2. What a friend we have in Jesus. A real friend. For he is a real person. And he is near to us. Always. This is just some of the good news we have been asked to be confident of. This is more true than our bank accounts which we are tempted to place all our trust in. Or at least most of it.

3. I want a prayer life that if prayer were removed from my life, it would be a radically different life.

4. It is good to remember that some people had a worse year (than you are having) previous to this year because they lost a loved one during that year.

5. 23 years ago today, Rich Mullins went on ahead of us. He has no heir.

6. “Anger, like pain, is not bad in itself but you wouldn’t choose it if you’re smart.” – Dallas Willard

7. Over the past month, in my counseling and conversations, I have heard half a dozen men and women tell me they are looking for a smaller church. Not so much because they are frustrated with their church, but because when everything else was taken away, they realized what they needed was a community in which they were known and knew. This makes me thankful for our little church around the corner we moved to six months before all this hit.

8. Whenever someone’s death is announced and there is no cause of death given, I now immediately assume suicide and there are so many sad realities behind that assumption.

9. When you honor the Emperor (regardless of deservedness) by not speaking of him or her with contempt and insults, you show a confidence in the King that cannot be understood by those who whose mind is set on the flesh.

10. The American church which has been so adamant for so long about “witnessing” needs to now live and breathe and have its being with a joy and a hope and a love and a peace that is fixed regardless of who is elected. That will get people’s attention. What we need to testify to is that Jesus is not a consolation prize when things do not go as planned or desired.

1.  Fear is an imagination of the future without the reality of God.

2. Entertainment is a fundamental tool of formation of character.

3. I can find no justification in the Scriptures for thinking as a conservative/republican or liberal/democrat. There, of course, my be some overlap in conviction. And the lack of that justification does not mean it is not allowable. But I can only assume that if the Scriptures were our true starting point, we would hold those labels and convictions lightly or not at all regardless of the ridicule we would be assailed with.

4.  I feel more at home in this world when on a hike in the woods.

5. One thing I have learned as a Counselor is the way we talk to each other matters.

6. Contempt is an acceptable habit in our culture.

7. Do not be impressed with the study of Psychology. Most texts on the subject talk very little of how the ancients thought about the subject. I have one text in my possession right now that gives 90 percent of it’s writing to the past 150 years. So don’t be too impressed.

8. You will not enjoy watching God provide for you if you do not create space for him to do so.

9. I wonder if we have ignored “the authorities, …the cosmic powers of this darkness, …evil, spiritual forces in the heavens,” to our personal and collective detriment.

10. I want to live like Lazarus, who after having been raised, now lived the truth of “For you died, and now your life is hidden with Christ in God,” and “the power of his resurrection.” My guess is that when he heard the authorities wanted to kill him, he responded with, “What? I cannot be killed for I have already died! Let them do what they want with me. I know the power of resurrection.”

 

1.“The little satisfactions in daily life – a cup of tea, the swirling snow, Christmas lights on a dim afternoon, a bird singing at the end of summer – can be unavailing if they take place within a crown failure.”

As soon as I read the above sentence in Helprin’s book, I stopped and read it again and really could not move past those words until I read them aloud to my wife. I think we were listening to the Cello Suites played by Yo-Yo Ma. I could not get over that sentence. There were two reasons. First, I know that reality all to well. When I worked at the bank I struggled to enjoy even the simplest joys, for even those simple joys were colored by the specter of going to back to a job in which I was failing. Second, I now counsel this kind of person. It may not be a job. Could be a marriage. But that sense of failure colors everything in the dark hues of 4 am. It is wise to understand how fundamental our vocations and relationships are in God’s economy and our machinery.

2. There are no easy answers on how to do schooling in a pandemic. There are too many variables involved for easy answers. Part of the discussion is the effect all this will have on a child’s mental health. I have one very serious question about this – why do we assume school as it has been done as of late is good for a child’s mental health? Surely, we cannot assume this is true for every child. And what do you mean by “mental health” anyway? What of bullying and peer pressure and the consistent (epidemic?) rise of anxiety with school-age children being reported and studied before the pandemic?

For Christians, the way we understand mental health is radically different than the way unbelievers do. Or should be. They will look at mental health as conformity to a standard that excludes the person of Jesus. We cannot do that. Jesus is the standard of mental health by which we should guide all our vessels. So when the prognosticators tell you not being in school could damage your child’s mental health, raise your eyebrow a little bit and think about why they assume this. It is not a given.

3. I keep seeing people post something to the effect of “How come social media can remove a video on Hydroxychloroquine but can’t remove all the porn?” This sounds like a good question. But it’s not. It’s like asking, “Why are you able to eat an apple but not all Italian food?” An apple is one thing. Italian food describes dozens upon dozens of foods. A video about a drug is one video. Or maybe even twenty videos. But when you talk about pornography, you are talking about millions of pictures and videos. My guess is that much pornography is removed from social media on a regular basis and if there is one in particular that gets traction, that video gets removed quickly. I was not a fan of Facebook removing that video from a couple of weeks ago, but the above question is like comparing oranges and Cadillacs. It’s just not a good question.

4. When I see people protesting the police, which usually by force of logic requires a police presence, then complain about the behavior of the police at said protest, I get confused. I know police officers can often abuse their power. But this all reminds me of teenagers complaining to their parents about how they are being treated and then asking for the keys so they can go be with their friends and continue to complain about their parents. Maybe this is why the early Christians neither sided with Rome nor saw Rome’s actions as an obstacle. Maybe this is why they honored the Emperor and also called Jesus “Lord,” which got them imprisoned and killed. The picture of the first disciples’ interactions with the authorities looks almost nothing like ours. Ours is all about rights and privileges and done with anger, whereas theirs was all about Christ and even love of their enemy. And speaking of Christ, when a Roman official came to him for help, Jesus lovingly helped him and did not lecture him about the injustice he was a symbol of.

5. I know the prevailing wisdom is that when the world is talking about “X,” the church and its leaders should also talk about “X.” But I kind of wonder if wisdom would be found in talking about “Y” or maybe even “A” instead.

6. Last night we were with some friends and one of them pointed out that it seems as if we are all going to be voting against a candidate (or candidates) rather than voting for one. And even when we spout our slogans, even that is a sign of what we are against and not what we are for. It’s a perceptive realization and one we need to think long and hard about.

7. I think we underestimate the power of beauty to do good. I’m not talking about “pretty.” I’m talking about beauty that transcends the tastes and the fads of the day. What if just like we have medicine, which can heal by coursing through our bodies, what if all that is beautiful can course through our spirits and heal us in the unseen places. Beauty quieter than the falling of a leaf in October and louder than the marches of a thousand armies. I’m talking about Mascagni’s “Intermezzo” and the smile of a old man who refused to grow grumpy because there is glory everywhere the light shines and sometimes even in the dark if you have eyes to see.

8. Trust seems to be at premium these days.

9. I hope someone writes a book about all the small wonders we have rediscovered and begun to appreciate again during the pandemic: good books, libraries, a quiet evening, home-cooked meals, dinner as a family around the table, sunsets, summer dusks, hugs from friends, laughter with friends. I am sure you have your own.

10. Question Everything.

Be like the Bereans. Read your Bible like them and watch and read the news like them and listen to the experts like them. Listen to your friends and enemies like them. Question everything. Not as a jerk. But as one so committed to the truth you do not make snap judgments with easy answers. Don’t buy it just because the people on your side said it. Don’t discount it just because the people on the other side said it. Question everything.

Even this post.

1. Moms, do you remember when almost every other post on Facebook was some novel variation on how to be a better mom? Do you remember how it destroyed all your confidence and joy? Do you remember how it often made you want to give up? Do you remember how debilitating it was and how it affected every part of your life because the guilt felt like an anvil on your soul?

That is what is happening with racism.

2. The gospel according to John is an inexhaustible mine of precious gems.

3. Not only is money deadly, the dream of money is too.

4. From now on, when I talk to men about going in to the ministry, I am going to ask them how comfortable they are at funerals and hospitals.

5. I am consistently amazed at the wisdom of Dallas Willard.

6. My prediction is we will see a mass exit from the church due to the pandemic. Those who were on the periphery or only attended because of programs and children’s events will fall away. They were not animated by a desire to follow Jesus so much as by tradition and convenience. They can get community at the ball field and the country club. Cultural Christianity may very soon be a thing of the past.

7. Obedience and joy are inextricably linked for the Christian.

8. I did the funeral of a friend I have known for over 40 years. That was a first and was bittersweet. Trying to comfort family and friends you have known that long is something very different. Beautiful but different.

9. The irony of fasting is how it not only helps you pray but causes feasting to be a help in prayer also.

10. The value of books and music outside of your current context is they give you perspective outside of your current social media feeds.

1. Unlike our culture, Jesus does not define the members of his kingdom by their sins.

2. Just in case no one told you, change is possible. And I’m not talking about changing the world. I’m talking about changing from a life of fear and frustration, anxiety and anger…death, to a life of peace and joy. If that is not true, then Jesus, our King is a liar.

3. Having access to the internet makes it possible for you to find what you need to be critical of the people you already did not like.

4. What do you dream of? Do you dream of walking with God or just a better and newer version of the American dream without any troubles? Do you dream of walking with God now or only later as a sort of consolation prize after this life is done with? We should assume our dreams are forming us.

5. The Screwtape Letters is a uniquely brilliant piece of writing.

6. If you never read books and listen to music that is hundreds (or thousands) of years old, it will be hard for you to see how many of modernity’s assumptions you hold. But of course, because those books and pieces of music have stood the test of time, they can help us understand this cultural moment.

7. I had an old friend go on ahead of us a couple of days ago. I didn’t find out about it till last night. Hit me like a brick in the chest. We were the same age, though now she stands outside of such notions.

8. I can find no evidence of Paul’s anger at the Empire, even while he was in prison. He doesn’t ridicule them or complain or rail against them. It’s weird.

9. Maybe what we are seeing in our cultural moment is not the problem. Maybe we are now seeing on the outside what has always been the problem on the inside.

10. What is happening in the kingdom of God is never in the news. But it is the best news imaginable.