During election seasons, political candidates often use words such as “hope,” “joy,” and “freedom,” telling voters that their longings will be fulfilled if only they would vote for them.

For those who have been redeemed by the grace and sacrifice of our Heavenly Father, we know that these desires can only be met through Jesus Christ. We should never place our hope, faith, or trust in a politician or government (1 Peter 1:3-9, Galatians 5:22-23, John 8:36, and John 16:24).

Former and current Ohio State University football players are bringing this Good News of the gospel to OSU students and, as a result of media attention, to the world. Last Sunday evening they held a “Come to Jesus” gathering attended by over 2,000 students. More than 50 were baptized and over 10,000 Bibles were handed out.

Organizer of the gathering and former OSU wide receiver Kamryn Babb described the amazing evening on Fox News’s “Fox & Friends.” He shared, “This event was … to bring true joy and peace that … can truly only be found in Jesus Christ. … God delivered, he saved, and he healed a lot of great people that were in a hurting position just like I was my whole life before I met him.”

Fox & Friends’ Rachel Campos-Duffy observed that there’s a hunger that isn’t being satisfied by social media, tech, and secular culture. She asked Babb, “What are students looking for?”

Babb responded, saying that people are looking for some sort of hope: “We throw around words like ‘hope’ and ‘love’ … [but they] can only be found in Jesus.”

What do words like “hope,” “love” and “unity” really mean? The Holy Spirit spoke through Babb when he explained:

“I think it’s found in the cross. … Jesus said in his word, when it comes to loving a friend, what does love really look like? And it’s to lay one’s life down for their friend. But I would say Jesus laid his life down for sinners, as the Bible describes as enemies of God. But he desires for us to be his. And so this encouragement that I would give the world is … to repent of your sins and believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, because it is the power to save men and women…He says that he gives those who believe in his name and believe what he did on the cross the right to be children of God.

“So the invitation [is] to bring so many hurting souls and so many people that are looking for hope and love in all these different areas. It’s the encouragement to say … every single time you’re looking somewhere other than God, you’re going to miss the mark. But God is right here, he’s a very present God, and he’s seeking after the hearts of men and women of all ages, all sizes, different backgrounds, and so it was an honor to see my Lord and my Savior move in the way that he did.

“And it was only because of him. It was ultimately to bring him glory. It wasn’t about a football team. It wasn’t about anything else besides Jesus Christ. This country, America, the world’s — everybody’s so divided and looking for answers — and the answer is in Jesus Christ and the blood that he shed on the cross, and it is the power to redeem us. He is the great Mediator that brought us to the Father, and so put faith in Jesus. …Put faith in Jesus, and you will find a love and a peace and a joy that is unlike anything that this world or any person or any touchdown or anything or anybody can give you.”

There may be growing tension, frustration, and difficult debates this election season, but if we are standing on the Rock and place our faith and truth in Jesus, we will not be shaken. We have ultimate joy and peace because Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. … In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”