First off, prayers to Donald and Melania Trump and their team that have tested positive for Covid-19. They will have the best of care, and I’m hopeful for a quick and complete recovery for all.

You can sense the big Mo has definitely shifted towards Mr. Biden in the last few weeks. The NYT accomplished their political objective with the hit job on Mr. Trump’s taxes, as Chris Wallace included that as part of the debate. Yet, as always, Mr. Trump’s enemies are not his problem, but his problem looks at him in the mirror. His strategy in the debate–and I can only conclude it was deliberate strategy–was to try and rattle Mr. Biden with his non-stop interruptions. The problem was that even when he did rattle him, he kept interrupting Mr. Biden, refusing to give him time to implode! So what needed to be a change in momentum was, even in the most generous assessments for Mr. Trump, a draw. And when you need a win and you get a draw, well….you lose.

So Mr. Trump’s fans are no doubt feeling increasingly uneasy, and with Covid-19 cases rising, there is not a lot of cheerful optimism right now for his base. Nor can Mr. Biden’s fans be much more cheerful, as their candidate was also woeful. But here is how we must be joyful.

The main message of the book of Daniel is that God is sovereign in the affairs of men. You are likely familiar with the story in Chapter 4; King Nebuchadnezzar is humiliated because of his pride:

²⁸ All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. ²⁹ At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, ³⁰ and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” ³¹ While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, ³² and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” ³³ Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws.

(Emphasis Added)

God is actively working all things, yes all things out for our good and His glory. As the late R.C. Sproul liked to quip, Romans 8:28 is the most quoted and least believed verse in the Bible. His plan is unfolding in history, and the next president of the United States is already in His plan. If Mr. Trump is who he puts in power, let us rejoice! If Mr. Biden is elected, let us rejoice. Yes, you know what we are required to do:

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 

Can we today overcome our practical atheism–which is what our lack of rejoicing is–as we think about all the troubles of this world? God is still on His throne. This day He is actively working for our benefit and His glory. Can I believe that? Can you? It’s really going to be quite ok. Let’s all stretch out our individual mustard seeds just a bit today!