7 Ways to Pray When You’ve Lost Hope in the Government

1. Pray for your leaders’ obedience to God.  

I realize you may not like them or approve of them, but God commands that we pray for those in leadership over us. Paul urged Timothy “that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4 ESV). 

God is still sovereign over government no matter who is in leadership and whether they are submitting to Him or not. Whether your country, state, or nation’s leaders are believers or non-believers, God still works His purposes through our leaders. So pray for their sensitivity to God’s voice, their ultimate subjection to Him, and their use for God’s purposes. As you pray for them, God may soften your heart toward them as well.

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2. Pray for a deeper dependence on God than your nation, state government, or leaders.

I used to get all worked up about politics, even enraged at times. And then I remembered a perspective-changing truth: My hope is in Who sits on heaven’s throne, not in who sits on Capitol Hill. My dependence is on the God of this universe, not on whomever happens to be in leadership for a short season. While I can speak up about injustice and vote according to my values and conscience, ultimately, I’m depending on God, who hears and enacts justice, not the people in leadership. The day you and I begin looking to our government or elected officials for our quality of life, our comfort, and our security, is the day we’ve forgotten our sovereign God. 

In Psalm 121:1-2, David sang, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” David reminded us that the Lord is the One who “will not let your foot be moved” (verse 3), is your keeper and your shade or relief (verse 5), and is the One who keeps you from all evil (verse 7) and guards your going out and your coming in (verse 8). Look to the Lord, who owns the hills, not to Capitol Hill, and your security will not be shaken.

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3. Pray for an eternal mindset.

I know far too many believers who were gravely disillusioned, disheartened, and almost debilitated by the outcome of the 2020 election. But God is still on the throne and He is sovereign even over elections that don’t go in our favor. Psalm 75:6-7 tells us:

“For exaltation comes neither from the east 

Nor from the west nor from the south.
But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another” (NKJV). 

Colossians 3:2 exhorts: “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (ESV). This world will continue to disappoint and discourage but your God, Scripture promises, will never disappoint. Keep your hope fixed on your eternal home and “let heaven fill your thoughts” (Colossians 3:2 TLB).

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4. Pray for your own heart.

When I start to get too wrapped up in what’s happening here or I become angry or bitter at certain leaders, I realize it’s time to pray for my own heart. I need to align my personal focus on the sovereignty of God, not this world spinning out of control. Personally, I do not believe that God judges nations by whom He allows into office. The God of the New Covenant in Jesus Christ’s blood is not a corporate God who is going to punish every believer in this country because prayer has been taken out of public schools or because the majority of voters weren’t concerned with biblical values and the sanctity of life. God is a personal God. When we personally repent of our sin, God credits to us the righteousness of His Son. Exodus 34:6 tells us that instead of being a God of vengeance, He is “a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” to those in covenant with Him.” 

In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God said, “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” But in context, that was a specific urging of the nation of Israel to repent. America, as a whole, cannot repent because America is a country, not an individual. But you and I can repent and keep our hearts right before God in spite of the laws and foolishness and evil that continue in this country. Don’t feel all is lost because of what the majority of unbelievers (or even believers) are doing around you. God sees your heart, so keep it right before Him in humility and repentance.

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5. Pray for God’s covering over His appointed ones in leadership.

Pray for the committed followers of Jesus Christ who are in political office, or running for office, that they would be strengthened, empowered, and encouraged by the spirit of God to continue standing firm. Ask God to protect them in the midst of spiritual warfare and shield them from the fiery darts of the enemy. Seek to be an encourager by letting righteous leaders know you are praying for them. Spiritual warfare exists, and when you take a stand for Jesus Christ you position yourself to fight against the enemy of our souls. Satan has subtle tactics and he might seem scary, but “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) Remember God and Satan are not equal opposing forces. Jesus Christ has already won the victory. Satan is desperately prowling about on limited time. Pray he is kept at bay and not allowed to harass those in government who are also on the front lines of spiritual warfare. 

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6. Pray for individual hearts, not issues.

Instead of praying for certain issues to pass, pray for hearts to be convicted and swayed. Instead of praying that a law will be overturned, pray for the hearts of those are crusading for evil—the hearts of lawmakers, the hearts of individual voters, and the hearts of judges. God cares far more about individual hearts and lives than issues.

God wants to save and transform lives. God doesn’t save issues, and he doesn’t save us based on our issues or our political involvement, or even how we vote. Christians will likely vote on issues that most closely align with their personal convictions (which prayerfully are aligned with biblical values). Ask God to examine your heart on all issues so that your values and convictions align with His. And pray for others in the same way, that their hearts, not just their heads, will be engaged when it comes to their values and votes. Ultimately, what God does in individual lives is what makes a difference eternally and temporarily while that person is still on this earth.

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7. Pray for God’s will to further His kingdom, not yours.

Jesus said His kingdom was not of this earth. While there will one day be a new heaven and a new earth, it won’t be under the faulty political systems we have in place now. That is not to say that Christians can’t make a difference now through spreading the gospel, through prayer, and through love for one another, but sometimes our will, our sense of comfort and convenience, and our opinions on what we believe are tolerant or “right” don’t line up with God’s. Pray for a heart that is sensitive to what God wants to accomplish in your life and in the lives of those around you, and in this world as a whole, not just this country. God is much bigger than the issues going on in the U.S. or in your own backyard. Ask God to give you a biblical worldview, and it may change nearly everything you say and do. 

For more on aligning your heart with God’s, see Cindi’s book Women on the Edge: Turning Desperate Times into Desire for God.

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