After the Ballot Box

As election season ends, our country’s need for healing and unity is undeniably obvious. Months of campaigning has left us emotionally raw as many find themselves angry, confused, and worried about what the future holds. Whoever you are and whatever your political affiliation is, the last 48 hours must have awakened you to the fact that our country is changing in a drastic, and perhaps permanent way.

The question for Christians is this: amidst all the chaos, what should we be doing as believers? What role can we play in bringing peace to a troubled and torn country? Should we dissect the dozens of political issues involved and try to convince our culture of the biblical truth pertaining to each one? Should we take to social media and broadcast our opinions along with everyone else? Should we get involved in politics and run for office ourselves?

These are all legitimate options, but let’s face it: our country needs more than that. All the peripheral issues we could exhaust ourselves trying to solve are really just symptoms of an underlying, spiritual problem. The brokenness we see in the eyes of our fellow man isn’t something that can be fixed via politics. We’re a country in need of the forgiveness, restoration, and healing only God can give.

According to Scripture, the only answer to the problems our nation faces is humility, prayer, and repentance. Politicians and policies are not the solution. No, this battle will not be won at the ballot box or in the streets, but in our homes and on our knees. So do more than vote and debate issues; pray harder than you’ve ever prayed, and seek the face of God on behalf of your country. Anger and dissatisfaction may prevail today, but my prayer is that America may one day rediscover the truth of Psalm 144:15: “Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!”