This article from Psychology Today explains why and how we receive grief from the actions of the political figures.
According to Psychology Today,
“Political grief can occur when we experience a loss of safety, trust, or hope for the future because of government practices and/or backlash to enacted policies.”
The article goes on to say,
“Additionally, there are many other death and non-death-related losses associated with oppression, systematic racism, mass shootings, human rights violations, war, and environmental degradation.”
We are experiencing these grief worthy issues in our current political climate.
- Systemic Racism: makes us question our values, and assumptions about life.
- Mass Shootings: promote fear, lack of safety, and hate related issues.
- Human Rights Violations: use hunger, lack of medical care, and illegal deportations to oppress others.
- War: the use of I.C.E. raids, national guard deployments to peaceful cities, describing those cities as “war zones”, and participating in offensive military actions in other parts of the world to make people feel unsafe.
- Environmental degradation: harmful climate changes that decrease the quality of life and longevity due to loose policies.
All of these tactics are designed to increase negative thoughts and feelings in the minds of people. They’re designed to make you think the world is gone crazy. They’re designed to polarize the nation into an us vs. them situation. It’s depressing and oppressive.
How do we combat this Political Grief?
We trust in God. Don’t lose hope. God is still God. He is still in control. He has never left believers nor forsaken his church. He has never failed us yet. We are not helpless. We are not hopeless. We just need to receive God’s grace. Here are three steps to help from the example of the Apostle Paul.
“Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” II Corinthians 12:8-10 NKJV
- Seek the Lord. God has the answers for our challenges, and he has the power to deliver us.
- Receive his response. Listen for God’s voice and believe what he says instead of believing the whispers of grief.
- Trust the power of God’s grace. God’s grace is sufficient. God’s grace is more than enough.