5 practical ways to beat election stress.

30-Second Version For Busy People

Election stress is real, but you don’t have to be consumed by it.

• New Thought: No political candidate can carry out the mission of the cross. Keep your hope where it belongs—on God's unchanging plan, not temporary outcomes.

• New Action: Beat election anxiety by cutting back on news, praying with someone you trust, and doing something you love.

Remember, when your focus is on God’s mission, you find peace no matter what happens around you.

Full Version

We are two weeks away from the presidential election, and I’m feeling about as stressed out as the fattest lobster in a Red Lobster tank.

Do you know that feeling when you're lying in bed, squeezing your eyes shut, trying to will yourself into sleep? “If I fall asleep right this second,” you think, “I'll get a solid 6 hours and 52 minutes of rest.”

But then, 25 minutes later, your eyes snap open again. It's maddening. You just want the fight to be over so you can drift into what you really want: sleep.

This election feels a lot like that.

We want it to be over. We’re squeezing our eyes shut, hoping we’ll wake up on the other side.

But we still have two weeks to go, and they’ll likely be the most brutal yet. The mockery dial is about to crank up, tensions between family members and neighbors will build, and no matter the outcome, half the country will walk away feeling frustrated and scared.

So, how do we beat election stress?

BETTER THOUGHT

Today's better thought: the mission of any candidate is not the mission of the cross.

It doesn’t matter if you’re voting red or blue—no one running for office is pushing forward the mission of the cross. The mission of the local church, serving God's purpose in the world, is something no political office can carry out.

• When we hope in a candidate, we set ourselves up for disappointment.

• When we hope in the gospel and the work of the church, we align ourselves with God’s unchanging mission.

Let’s keep our eyes on that mission these next two weeks, knowing that the cross is where our ultimate hope and future lie—not in any election outcome.

BETTER ACTION

Today's better action: 5 practical ways to beat election stress. 

1. Watch less news: Staying informed is important, but there’s a thin line between staying updated and getting obsessed. Try cutting back on your news consumption and focus on things that bring peace, not anxiety. Choose calm over chaos.

2. Talk with your neighbors; don't fight with strangers: No one has ever changed their political beliefs because of an argument with a stranger online. Instead of engaging in keyboard battles, why not focus on real conversations with your neighbors?

3. Do something you love: When stress is sticking to you like glue, one of the best ways to shake it off is by doing something you enjoy. Whether walking your dog, reading a book, or putting together a LEGO set, spending time on something fun pulls you out of the stress cycle and lets you reset.

4. Write it down: Stress can feel huge when it’s all in your head, but when you write it down, it shrinks. Grab a notebook and get those worries on paper. It doesn’t have to be fancy—just a few minutes of jotting down what’s bothering you can help you see it for what it is: manageable.

5. Pray with someone you trust: Praying with a friend can lift a huge weight off your shoulders. It’s a reminder that you don’t have to carry everything on your own. Plus, when you pray together, you’re shifting your focus from the election craziness to the God who’s bigger than all of it.

BECOMING A BETTER CHRISTIAN

When Christians get better, everyone gets better. Here are a few ways I am getting better this week.

• Our church family took one Bible class to discuss politics. We have a rule to keep politics out of our worship 98% of the time, but we took a brief moment to realign our minds on God in this season of insanity. One resource we referenced was a sermon Rubel Shelly gave titled: On Being Christian in an Election Year.

• I am helping build a community of Christian writers in the Christian Story Lab. It's a growing online group of writers, illustrators, pastors, animators, directors, and creators building their craft, character, and community. It's a wildly creative and kind group. If you are a Christian writer or want to flex your storytelling muscle, check it out: Christian Story Lab.

• The NBA season started this week. This didn't help me become a better Christian, but it sure does bring me a lot of joy knowing the OKC Thunder tipoff tonight. Thunder Up ⚡️

Hit "reply" and let me know what you're doing!