Part 1

Every political season is filled with drama and turmoil. However, the political landscape surrounding our current presidential race has more vitriol than I can handle. The ‘truth’ seems to be a distant idea that we in America once held to. Today, the truth of the issues and candidates are colored and poured over with positive or negative exaggerations depending on the news outlet you listen to. As a result, I have found myself having a hard time believing anything I read or hear about the candidates running for office. I have found myself being very frustrated with it all. Almost to the point of deciding that I am just not going to pay attention or even vote. All of this has caused me to think, ‘What does the Bible teach about these things?’ I have heard sermons about this subject before, but I have never been emotionally and intellectually fed up with our ‘system’ until now. So I urgently need a ‘biblical reset’.

After the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, I found myself glued to the television, watching endless hours of commentary across all major news networks. I’m sure I wasn’t alone in this; perhaps you, too, were anxiously awaiting updates on Mr. Trump’s condition and speculating about who could have committed such an act. The emotions were overwhelming. Though I’ve never met Trump, the attack felt personal—like an assault on me, my family, and the very freedoms we hold dear. It was, indeed, an attack on freedom, which affects us all.

I recall hearing voices from both sides of the political aisle urging for a “cooling of the rhetoric” that had grown so toxic. There was talk of unity, with both parties acknowledging the dangers of labeling each other as “threats” and “evil.” Naively, I thought this might actually lead to change. But just days after the attempt on Trump’s life, the same old political bickering resumed, with both sides slinging insults as viciously as ever. I found myself asking, “Why did I expect anything different?” Disheartened and angry, I turned off the news altogether. If the general election had been held that week, I’m not sure I would have even made it to the ballot box.

Let me be clear: I am a patriot. I deeply value the right to vote, and if my honesty offends you, I ask for your forgiveness. I’m just being transparent about my frustration with the current state of our political system. This frustration has driven me back to God’s Word, where I find strength and resolve in the face of turmoil.

When I step back, take a deep breath, and immerse myself in God’s Word, one truth stands out: God is sovereign. Isaiah 46:9-10 reminds us, “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.’” This passage reassures us that God not only knows every detail of our lives but has already ordained the course of history according to His perfect plan. The fact that God has declared “the end from the beginning” brings immense comfort during these chaotic political times.

While I have my own opinions about who would be best suited for the White House, I find peace in knowing that no matter who occupies that office, nothing and no one can change the God who reigns on the throne in Heaven. The policies of political leaders may impact our daily lives, but it is God who holds our lives in His hands. He promises, “I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Is. 46:10b, ESV). It’s not our elected officials or the President who hold our futures; it’s our amazing God who loves, cares for, and provides for us. By looking to Christ to sustain us, rather than those in political power, we can vote based on facts as we understand them, rather than being swayed by raw emotions that so often lead us astray.

So, beloved, if you find yourself feeling the way I do, let me encourage you to do what I’ve done: take a breath and remember that God is in control of our lives, not those who hold elected office. You may have a favorite candidate, as I do. What will happen if your candidate isn’t elected? I’m not sure. What will happen if they are? I don’t know that outcome either. But I do know and believe that God is on the throne, in control of our tomorrow, just as He is today and was yesterday.
Paul writes extensively about how we, as Christians, should interact with politics and those in government. I’ll share my thoughts on Paul’s writings in the next article.

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