I hate politics.
I always have. Politics cause arguments and I don’t like arguments. I like peace.
So for years, my default was to walk away from any political discussion. I don’t think I registered to vote until I was 21 because I wanted no part of a subject so divisive that caused such strife among my friends and family.
And when I did finally register to vote, I registered ‘no party affiliation.’ I don’t like all the stereotypes that come with the republican or democrat labels. I agree and disagree with positions in both parties and I refuse to give people ammo to use against me based on the assumptions each party brings with it.
So I don’t vote in the primaries. This is probably to my country’s benefit because I don’t follow the issues or the candidates until I absolutely HAVE to make a choice. Better to have more-informed citizens narrow down my choices for me.
I have never seen a politically minded person who exuded a sense of joy and peace. They always seem anxious, defensive and angry. Fearful of losing (the illusion of) control, based on who wins the next whatever. And I don’t want to live like that.
And THIS year. Well, you know. For some reason, we can be friends with people who cheer for different sports teams. We can be friends with people who practice different religions. We can be friends with people of a different race, sexual orientation or generation.
But this year, we apparently can’t be friends with someone who supports a different candidate.
Friendships that are years, even decades old are being severed because of who people are voting for. People are literally walking away from relationships they’ve had for most of their lives because they disagree politically.
This is no less than abhorrent to me. Literally makes my stomach hurt.
So on the other side of November 8, can we all be friends again? Or have we judged and rejected each other beyond all hope of reconciliation, over two morally corrupt strangers who both want to be President of the United States?
Sweeping generalizations are being made on both sides. Insults are thrown at the water cooler and around the dinner table as well as the debate stage.
This year, it’s personal.
“I just could never be friends with someone who would even CONSIDER voting for _____.” “______ is so wrong in so many ways. And if you support them, well, I guess I was wrong about you too.” We’ve seen people go so far as to question a fellow Christian’s SALVATION, based on who they are supporting in this campaign.
Are. You. Freakin’. Kidding. Me?
Our next president won’t destroy the country because at this rate, there won’t be anything left to destroy. We will have all eaten each other alive, siloed off into communities of people who look and think and act just like we do, as divided as we’ve ever been.
Gross.
Do you see why I hate politics? This is what it does to people.
This year’s campaign has proven me right about the whole mess and I was comfortably settling into my smug cynicism.
Until God messed me all up, as He just LOVES to do.
A dear friend of mine, actually my big sister in my sorority (darn you, Andi) posted something on Facebook that was a burning arrow into my heart. She begged Christians not to look away from the ugliness of this campaign, but to stay engaged in the process, keep praying and be light in the darkness.
I let this marinate overnight, knowing she was completely right, but still not wanting any part of it. Until later the next afternoon I drove past an election sign that I had seen and agreed with many times over the past few months: EVERYBODY SUCKS 2016.
My thoughts exactly.
And suddenly God switched on the floodlight aimed at my heart, which had grown so full of pessimism, despair and hate, I didn’t even recognize it. All the things I had been saying throughout this presidential race came flooding back to me in full stereo:
I hate both of the candidates.
I hate this whole process.
I hate politics.
I hate my options.
I hate all the spin.
I hate all the judgment.
I hate everything.
I hate.
And right then and there, I realized the problems weren’t only out there, on TV, on the campaign trail, in Washington. My heart full of vitriol was contributing to everything that repulses me about politics. I had become the very thing I despised: a hater, a stone thrower, a mud slinger.
I repented hard and fast and suddenly saw both candidates in a new light: Made in the image of God, in need of a Savior just like the rest of us and one of them was (is) going to be my next president.
Paul told Timothy,
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)
They aren’t just politicians or talking heads. They don’t just exist out in TV Land somewhere. These are real human beings, created by God with souls built for eternity. And they don’t need one more word of criticism. They need to be covered in prayer.
So if you’ll permit me, I’d like to offer these prayers on behalf of all citizens of the United States of America as we choose our new leader in a few short weeks.
Lord Jesus, forgive me. Forgive me for judging my fellow Americans and my fellow Christians. Forgive me for judging the candidates. You know full well the atrocities I have committed (and have yet to commit) in my life and I am in no place to point at a speck in the eye of another. You died willingly on the cross to cover those sins and the sins of all who claim You as their Savior. The debt has been paid, in full, for all time.
Lord, I pray specifically for the friendships that have been destroyed by this election process. Satan revels in division and fear and I know he celebrates every time a relationship is broken, no matter the reason. You have called us to the ministry of reconciliation and I pray now that we would be quick to offer each other grace as we each wrestle with the decision we have to make on November 8.
We all have different stories. We all come from different backgrounds. We all have different rosters of issues, each list in a different order of importance. And I thank You for being born in a country where every citizen, regardless of race or gender, gets a vote.
Lord, I lift up Donald Trump to You. I thank You for the gifts that You’ve blessed him with and I pray that You would show him how to use them effectively for Your kingdom and Your glory. Father, ambush him with Your overwhelming love and grace and in Your mighty power, transform him into a man after Your own heart. Give him ears to hear and eyes to see. Reveal to him Your truth and surround him with those who will help him to walk in it. Forgive him for his transgressions, Lord. Reveal to him his need for a Savior.
Father, protect his life from those who wish him harm. Protect his health and his family. I pray for all of those who have been hurt in his wake. I pray for their complete healing that comes straight from Your hand, that they would also be comforted by Your love for them and find relief in You.
Lord, guide his steps. I pray for wisdom for his future decisions, grace for his future words and most of all, I pray that he would follow You, so if he is elected, we can confidently follow him.
And God, I pray for Hillary Clinton. We only know a fraction of the pain she’s been dealt in her life and the public betrayal that she suffered would be enough to make me hide under a rock for the rest of my life. I can’t imagine what other struggles she’s been through that have impacted her heart and her choices. You have clearly blessed her with the gift of influence and I pray you would begin to heal her broken heart so she would be able to use that influence to bring Your kingdom.
More than anything, she needs to feel Your overwhelming, furious love. May she find her value and worth in You rather than her accomplishments. Lord, make her feel safe and secure in You, remind her of her true identity and that You are where her true power comes from. Give her the desire to live in the light as You are in the light.
God, her actions have caused much pain in this country as well. Please comfort those who have suffered loss because of her decisions. Use their pain to pull them to Yourself. I lift up her marriage, that it would be a testimony of forgiveness and grace. Protect her family and her health.
Lord, bring people into her life and onto her staff who love You and can show Your love to her. Make her decisions be those of integrity and honor, in the best interest of America and the world. Capture her heart so that if she is elected, she can be a power tool in Your hand and You would get all the glory.
And God if You are to raise up a third-party candidate in these final days of the election, I pray that you would equip them for the task ahead of them and they would look to you for all decisions.
Jesus, regardless of who wins this election, You will still be on the throne as King of kings and Lord of lords. And regardless of who wins this election, Your call on our lives as Christians will not change. We are to be lights in the darkness, agents of Your love and messengers of Your good news, under all circumstances.
Squelch the hate in our hearts, the territory that Satan has taken to distract us with fear and hopelessness. You bring dead things back to life. You create things out of nothing. Fill our hearts with love and compassion for these people who are daring to vie for the highest position in the country.
Expose the lie of the enemy that says we must hate those who vote differently than we do and that THEY are the enemy. Remind us that we’re all making the best decision we can based on the information and options we’ve been given.
Have Your way in this election, in this country. Your will be done. And help us continue to pray for our president, whoever it may be.
Thank You for being high above us all, in control of all things. May we remember to never rest our hope for humanity in a mere mortal, but continue to look to You to save the world. Because in many ways, in the most important way, You already have.
Strengthen us and encourage us for the road ahead. Thank You for walking with us. Always.
Amen.
