8 Essential Tips to Maintain Your Sanity During Election Season

1. God Is Still on the Throne

The first thing you must remember in any political season is God is still on the throne. Election outcomes reveal quickly where people are putting their trust. As Christians, it is sad that we put more trust in those who we elect than in our God who we serve.

If you don’t believe me, just look at how people behave when their candidate does not win. If you remember nothing else, please remember this. Elections don’t surprise God, nor do they interrupt his purpose and plan on the earth.

He will accomplish his purpose regardless of who is in the White House. He will do this because he is sovereign, he reigns forever, and no one will ever remove him from his throne.

Now, if you read this and the first words out of your mouth are “but don’t you see what is happening” then, my friend, you must re-evaluate where your trust is. Regardless of who wins, God is sovereign. He always will be, and, in the end, his purpose will prevail.

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2. You Represent Christ First, Not Your Political Party

“So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!’” (2 Corinthians 5:20, NLT).

One reason people lose their sanity during election season is because their priorities become misaligned. They forget who they represent first. As Christians, you are Christ’s ambassador. That means you are his representative on the earth.

Before you are a Democrat, Republican, or Independent, or anything else, you are a follower of Jesus Christ. Your most important responsibility is not to uphold the agenda of your political party. Lifting Jesus up so that others will be drawn to him is your first responsibility.

When you put your party first, you risk shipwrecking your testimony because your passion for your political cause takes priority over representing Christ.

This can lead to behavior that does not represent Christ well. When this happens, instead of making Jesus shine, we embarrass him. Regardless of who wins, your responsibility is to represent Christ first.

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

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3. You Are Commanded to Love Regardless

Perhaps your greatest testimony for Jesus in election season is not how you respond when your candidate wins, but how you respond if they don’t. Regardless of how a person votes or what the outcome of the election is, we are called to love them.

We must love God and love our neighbor. The Bible makes it clear who your neighbor is. Your neighbors are everyone. You must love the one who shares your political view, and you must love the one who doesn’t.

This is not a suggestion; this is a command. Remember that love is patient, kind, not rude, proud, or boastful. Once you remember that, now practice it. If you do, it will help you maintain your sanity.

When you focus on the next election, that is a temporary focus that comes with much anxiety. When you focus on loving your neighbor, that is an eternal focus that endures beyond any election season.

Here are five things to do:

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4. Think People Not Party

It can be so easy to get caught up in all the partisan politics that we forget these issues usually center on people. What if, when you think about an issue, you put yourself in the shoes of the person who is going through that issue?

Doing this changes everything because they are no longer just political talking points. They become real people facing actual issues. Let me give you an example. Abortion is a hotbed item in our country.

In general, one party is for it and one party is against it. Here is how you can make this more than just a party issue. Have you ever asked a woman who is considering an abortion why she feels this is the best course of action for her life?

Doing something like this (and you can do this with any issue) opens the door to go past the politics and make it about the person and what they may be wrestling with.

When we make it about politics, we can become cold, heartless, and divisive. When we make it about people, that moves us towards being loving and compassionate, which helps us to represent Christ well.

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5. Don’t Become Consumed with Media  

I will almost guarantee that anyone who is angry, anxious, or afraid in an election season is consuming way too much media. Many media outlets aim to make you fearful instead of instilling confidence in you.

Confidence can make you complacent, but fear can move you to action. Most of the media outlets use an Us vs. Them methodology. They present their side in the positive light and the other side in the negative light.

This causes you to love your side and hate the other. It also makes you nervous if your side does not win. That’s why I recommend you don’t consume yourself with media. Let me say it even plainer. Turn the television off and put your cell phones down.

From time to time, you need to reset and put your focus and energy in the right place. That place is in God’s word and in God’s presence. Instead of constantly consuming media, do this instead.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7).

If you want to experience God’s peace throughout this election season, you will find it in rejoicing, praying, and offering thanksgiving.

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6. Listen Fast and Speak Slow

The last two presidential election seasons were among the cruelest, meanest, and nastiest election seasons I have ever seen, and I am talking about how Christians behaved.

We get caught up in all the things the world gets caught up in. Think about all the fights that occurred on social media and other platforms. Somehow, we forgot we represent Christ first.

How do we remedy that? James gives us the answer.

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” (James 1:19-20).

In this political season, listen to what people have to say and realize you don’t have to agree or respond. If you find what they say is making you upset or angry, then simply walk away. Arguing with people either in person or on social media will convince no one of anything.

More importantly, you may win the argument but lose your witness for Jesus. When you view it from that perspective, then what have you really gained? Sure, you may win the temporary, but you lose sight of the eternal.

Please tell me which one should be the higher priority. If you lose the political fight but maintain your witness for Jesus, that is by far way more important.

To apply this verse in a 21^st century context, speaking means the words you say with your mouth and all electronic communication. What you say on social media matters because people are a lot quicker and freer with their thoughts and opinions.

If you will listen more and ask questions to understand and not judge, you will have a more peaceful election season.

Take a page from Jesus’ book. When did you ever see Jesus argue or debate with anyone? Rather, he asked questions that allowed people to think about either what he was saying or what they were saying.

So, listen more and speak less and you will keep your sanity throughout this election season.

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7. Mix Your Passion with Empathy 

For many people, elections can boil down to one major issue. Some people will vote for the party that aligns with their view on that issue. People can be so passionate about that one issue they feel everyone should share their same passion.

While that may be a noble idea, it is not a fair or realistic one. What is important to you may not be as important to the next person.

You must come to grips with that and recognize that it’s okay. There is nothing wrong with being passionate, but don’t be alarmed if people don’t share your passion.

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8. Don’t Judge Someone’s Christianity by Their Political Party Affiliation

One thing we must get away from is judging someone’s Christianity based on the political party they affiliate with. Sadly, many Christians have fallen in line with the divisive political rhetoric and have tried to spiritualize it.

They make statements like, “How can you be a Christian and be a…?” I just have one question. Tell me which party aligns one hundred percent with everything God has said in his Word? The answer is neither.

We must stop making it seem as if God favors one party over another because that is simply not true. Both parties have aspects of their platform that don’t align with Scripture. Aside from that, your salvation results from your belief in Jesus, not the box you check on your election ballot.

Have you ever wondered why politics is so divisive? The truth is it doesn’t have to be. It is up to us who are followers of Jesus to show the world it does not have to be that way.

As I close this article and as we are in the middle of election season, remember this last truth and practice this with everyone. This will keep you sane and you will shine brightly for Jesus in this election season and frankly in every season.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others (Philippians 2:3-4).

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