OPINION:
“Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.”
Jesus’ timely words are recorded in the Gospel of Matthew and have been invoked by many for millenniums seeking to make the point that intense division can lead to the dissolution of our most beloved relationships and institutions.
Ideological splintering is not new in America; we have dealt with many issues throughout our 248-year history. Abraham Lincoln himself appealed to Jesus’ words when he addressed slavery in his famous 1858 “House Divided” speech.
“A house divided against itself cannot stand,” Lincoln warned, imploring the nation to contend with its differences over the horrors of slavery.
Today, America’s cultural cracks are growing over different issues, and it’s hard to ignore the elevating chaos underpinning those fissures. And while political dissent is not new, the 2024 election cycle includes red-alert warnings that we’ve entered uncharted territory.
The attempted assassinations of former President Donald Trump, the feeling we’re living in two different Americas — and warnings of an impending mental health crisis due to the stress citizens feel over electoral possibilities — are just some of the symptoms.
But America’s overarching problems have been most fueled by a radical shift away from faith in the eternal and toward the self. It’s people’s untethering from a reliance on God and replacing it with a quest to worship self that has been the most devilish and toxic development.
So how do we stem the tide of disarray and get back to normal? Sadly, our divisions and toxic pangs cannot be healed unless we pause, reflect, look to the Lord and seek God’s guidance for healing.
The best way to survive the presidential election and navigate the emotional chaos and stress in the run-up is to turn to God, humble ourselves and pray for this great nation. So, let’s explore five invocations that could help save America — and preserve our individual sanity.
First and foremost, while the rage of our politics lures us to name-call, dismiss and stew in our hatred for candidates we oppose, the Bible calls us to pray for our leaders.
“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,” 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NIV) reads.
When we take that verse and apply it to other Scriptures that talk about feeding, clothing and loving enemies, it’s clear we’re called to pray for both Mr. Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. We must humble ourselves, ask God to bless them both and give them the wisdom to lead and thrive, regardless of what we want to unfold at the polls on Tuesday.
With emotions high, this might feel insurmountable, yet the reality is: Half of Americans will soon be living under a leader they don’t want. This is creating dysfunction and panic. One survey found 60% of Americans have seen their mental health hurt in some way by the election.
As much as we’ve joked about safe spaces and laughed about some of the softness many have exhibited in recent years, it’s clear many people are legitimately struggling. I’ve had a number of concerning conversations with people around me who can’t mentally handle the idea their preferred candidate might not win.
That’s why, regardless of where we stand, we must also pray for the mental health and sanity of our families, our friends and our nation. Leading with love and asking God to bring peace to those around us is essential to not only surviving this election but also prospering thereafter.
That brings us to our third prayer, which focuses on the posture of our hearts. If we’re struggling with the first two action calls, perhaps we need to stop and ask God to give us the strength, courage and devotion to show appropriate compassion to those with whom we disagree, including the candidates themselves and our ideological opponents.
This is an important prayer either way, but especially if you’re angry and need the fortitude to live out the call we see in 1 Timothy.
Our fourth prayer must be one for peace. When a former president can’t stand at a lectern without a bullet grazing his head, we’ve gone past the point of sanity and into an abyss from which we absolutely must return.
America is a pressure cooker right now, and the election results are certain to spark acrimony among certain factions of the populace. Asking God for peace in the wake of the election is essential and should be on all of our hearts and minds moving forward.
Finally, the most important prayer for surviving the election and saving America is an invocation asking for our hearts and minds to be aligned with God’s will, not our own. Our nation is struggling with record confusion, mental health and drug abuse crises. We’re lost, angry, confounded and desperately in need of following God’s will in our individual and collective lives.
Let’s pray for ourselves to think, act, speak and behave like the Lord and for others around us to also seek solace in Him. The secret to surviving and thriving is before us, but will we listen? Only time will tell.
• Billy Hallowell is a digital TV host and interviewer for Faithwire and CBN News and the co-host of CBN’s “Quick Start Podcast.” He is the author of four books.
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