IS GOD IN THIS?

By Qwinita Bell

In those days it was not safe to travel about, for all the inhabitants of the lands were in great turmoil. One nation was being crushed by another and one city by another, because God was troubling them with every kind of distress.

- 2 Chronicles 15:5-6

This sounds like today’s headlines! Everywhere we turn, we’re confronted with challenges, changes, or even outright destruction of the things we hold dear. Chaos and discord are so pervasive in the world that it’s hard to find anything that shocks or offends us anymore. The current election has only intensified the exposure of humanity’s deep-rooted sin. People have grown numb to the pain of others, tangled in a society driven by wealth, power, and control. Even those who claim to follow Jesus have become hardened and distant from His teachings of love.

Isaiah 43:18 tells us, "Do not remember the former things; neither consider the things of old."

The Amplified Bible even adds the word "earnestly" to this command. But does that mean we should completely forget the past, or simply not dwell on it? Many of us have lived through events we’d rather forget, but the question is how much we let those events shape our present and future.

Mankind’s thirst for power and control is nothing new. In today’s political climate, that thirst is neither hidden nor disguised. Judges 21:25 says, "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes." Replace "king" with "president" and "Israel" with "USA," and the statement could just as easily describe the current state of the world. Politics today has exposed prejudices that once lurked beneath the surface, and no one is immune to the fallout. Everyone is striving to come out on top, while few are seeking God’s will. Romans 1:22, 29-32 warns us about the destruction that follows when we leave God out of the equation.

This election has put a glaring spotlight on the damaging effects of sin. The enemy’s destructive work is out in the open for all to see—nothing is sacred, nothing is hidden, and no one is untouched by it. The toxic combination of self interest and sin has turned the world into a battleground, one that only God can mend. But is God present in this election? Absolutely! Despite the chaos, there remains a faithful remnant of true believers who demonstrate Christ’s justice, compassion, empathy, love, and kindness. For every story of sin and division, there is another of love and selflessness.

Yes, this election has caused division, hatred, and the destruction of relationships. It has led to the neglect of the poor, the orphaned, and the widowed, while blatant lies are passed off as truth, leading to unnecessary suffering. It’s natural to wonder, “Where is God in all of this?” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 reminds us that there is nothing new under the sun. These challenges have happened before and will continue until Christ returns. In John 16:33, Jesus tells us to expect days of confusion and trouble. Yet, the book of Revelation points us toward the most important election of all—the final one, when Jesus returns for His church.