In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18)
In her book, The Hiding Place, Corrie Ten Boom wrote about her time in Ravensbrück, a Nazi prison camp, with her sister Betsie. Among the many hardships, Corrie describes a terrible infestation of fleas and lice in the crowded barracks where she and Betsie were housed.
Interestingly, Betsie encouraged the women to give thanks even for the lice. Corrie later realized that the infestation kept the guards away from their barracks allowing them to hold Bible studies and prayer meetings without interference.
It is one of the most memorable lessons in the book about gratitude and faith in all circumstances. When my children are troubled, I often hear a litany of their problems ending with, “Thank you, Father, for the lice.” They usually mean it as a joke, since we all know we live in relative ease, but sometimes the lesson is real.
In addition to “Giving thanks in all circumstances,” here are a few things to keep in mind about this past election:
- Our kingdom is not of this world, and we are not here to create heaven on earth. Our goal is to love our neighbor and bring people to Christ.
- When elections are disappointing, we are NOT screaming or crying and threatening to leave America. We are Christians, and this is our mission field. We will remain and work to share Christ and love our neighbors.
- We operate on principle. Some of you may have seen JD Vance posting “we know why we lost” and pledging to change. However, we will NEVER adjust our policy decisions based on their popularity and will continue promoting our core issues, regardless of election results.
Finally, I know that many of you are active in CWA because you want to defend freedom for your children and your children’s children. That is absolutely why I am so active in public policy. But at times like these, it is good to remember that we cannot protect our children. We can only make them strong so they can protect themselves. In other words, “calm seas do not make skilled sailors.” This is a good time to talk with the young people in your life about the election, the results, why people might have voted as they did, and what a Godly Christian response is.
With that in mind, we might have some stormy seas ahead. An emboldened Virginia legislature has already pre-filed over 400 bills and resolutions, and that number will grow to a few thousand before the January 13, 2027, deadline.
What you can do:
- Continue to pray for our leadership, including political and pastoral leadership, that they would make Godly choices.
- Talk about this election. For the next few weeks, we have an open window to discuss these issues from a Biblical standpoint.
- Recruit friends and family to your Prayer/Action Chapter meetings.
How you can pray: Gracious Heavenly Father, thank You for the freedoms we enjoy in this great nation, the privilege of voting, the ability to express our faith, and the opportunity to make our voices heard. We thank You for the recent election results and lift up our elected leaders to You. Grant them wisdom, humility, courage, and integrity as they serve. May they seek what is right, protect our freedoms, defend the vulnerable, and govern with justice and compassion.
Lord, we pray that You would use this election and the current political climate to awaken Your Church. Stir Christians to become people of prayer and action—not just watching what happens in government, but understanding that in America, WE are involved in shaping the policies that affect our families, communities, and future. Motivate believers to engage at the local and state levels, to know their legislators, participate in public policy, and courageously stand for Biblical values.
Finally, please, open doors for meaningful conversations about the issues that matter so deeply: the sanctity of human life and abortion, the importance of marriage and family, and the rights, safety, and protection of our children. Give us wisdom to speak truth with grace, courage to defend those who cannot defend themselves, and compassion for those with whom we disagree. May these conversations lead to greater understanding and a renewed commitment to protecting human dignity and Biblical principles.
Above all, remind us that our hope is not in political parties or elected officials, but in You. May this election be a catalyst for renewed prayer, spiritual revival, and greater Christian involvement in the public square. Help us be salt and light in our communities and faithful stewards of the freedoms You have entrusted to us. May our nation turn toward You and may all we do bring glory to Your name. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
May this election become more than a political turning point; may it become a spiritual awakening that moves Christians from watching events unfold to praying, participating, and making a difference.
