What to do when politics is so depressing?

Ahead of the assisted suicide vote and after this week's baby killing legislation

I am trying to avoid reading much about British politics at the moment because it is too depressing, and holistic approaches to cancer treatment usually emphasise reducing stress, thinking positively and dealing well with negative emotion. Sadly the state of our country at present evokes plenty of the latter. I will never forget the utter despair I felt after Labour MPs voted through the obviously flawed euthanasia bill last November. Being pro death is bad enough, but admittedly those who support so-called “assisted dying” have been deceived into thinking it is the “compassionate” thing to do. Yet even those who erroneously believe this should be able to see how seriously flawed this particular bill is and how it will put the vulnerable at risk.

Two of the MPs pushing this dark legislation represent Yorkshire constituencies: Kim Leadbeater and Tom Gordon, and they bring shame onto this beloved county. So well done to those who organised and signed this letter from Yorkshire medics warning of the serious implications of this Bill. Of course many medical associations of many different types have also explicitly spoken out against this legislation, yet it seems that the new, inexperienced tranche of Labour MPs are likely to ignore all sense and danger at this Friday’s vote, bar a miracle. With the horrendous hijacking of Parliament this week to decriminalise late stage abortion, any horror seems possible.

Although I am trying to avoid politics, it only takes a walk down the street to observe the serious decline in our society, in so many, many ways. It’s really upsetting me. While many people avoid thinking about it, I think most of us perceive that we are headed somewhere really awful very fast, even if we disagree on the causes and the solutions. As it is, I think the prospects are so bleak that only a mighty miracle can save us.

The good news is that I believe in a God of miracles, who loves us and cares about each person in this country. It’s clear in the Bible that he will allow a nation to choose badly and allow severe (and often plainly obvious) consequences to follow. Yet, time and time again He forgives when there is repentance and He saves us from our bad choices. When enough people correctly identify the source of our woes as the widespread rejection of Christ in all its many forms, then I believe He will have mercy on us and start to reverse the terrible trends that we see all around us. While it’s easy to point fingers and blame, I have to acknowledge my own part in our problems, especially before my conversion, but also since. This is pushing me to a deeper trust and surrender to God and a greater resolve to seek his loving will in all I do, especially if my time is short.

So yes, the situation is deeply depressing, especially in politics and related to the killing of babies, grannies and the terminally ill, but also in many other aspects of society at present. But God can bring good out of this, and he can instruct us in a path forward of love, faith and hope, if enough of us choose it. That path might seem obscure, but I believe God can light the path if we ask Him, even if it is just the next small step that we can take. Can we seek to order our own lives into the loving purpose of God, and encourage all those around us to do the same?

Disabled groups have repeatedly warned about the dangerous implications of assisted suicide legislation - see more at https://righttolife.org.uk/news/devalued-to-death-activists-with-disabilities-share-fears-about-assisted-suicide-bill