When the Going Gets Tough: Praying for Our Leaders
It can be really hard to live in a world where people often act selfishly, thinking only about themselves while neglecting the well-being of others.
This selfishness is reflected in many leaders around the world, who also lack empathy, kindness, and grace.
Given this reality, how can anyone reasonably expect us to pray for those who are wicked, corrupt, and deceitful?
It’s difficult to understand why we should care about people who hurt others, which brings us to a critical question:
Who are our Leaders?
Leaders are individuals who, either voluntarily or through majority vote or appointment, take on the responsibility of providing, protecting, guiding, and governing a group of people.
No one is truly forced to rule.
Today, we live in a system where individuals actively engage in politics.
They join political parties, and run for public office, going through the necessary processes to win or lose based on the people’s vote.
However, dishonesty and deceit have become the foundation of modern politics.
People no longer seek office to serve the public; instead, they run to fulfill their own selfish ambitions.
Governments that should provide basic necessities like food, security, and education often steal from and endanger their citizens.
As a result, injustice, lawlessness, and sin have become the order of the day.
Political leaders and entrenched bureaucrats undermine the rule of law, while presidential candidates openly promote corruption.
This has allowed a godless, materialistic worldview to take root in society, where those in power continue to increase the nation’s debt by spending money they do not have.
Given this reality, how can anyone ask us to pray for leaders who are ungodly and oppose God and His word?
But consider this, dear one: if no one prayed for you, for me, or for our nation, how would any of us survive?
After all, how can anyone be saved from suffering if not by God’s mercy?
Do You Remember…
The story of Sodom and Gomorrah, when God informed Abraham of His plan to destroy the cities because of their great wickedness.
Concerned about the innocent people who might be living there, Abraham approached God and asked, “Will you still destroy the city if fifty righteous people are found within it?”
God then agreed to spare Sodom if fifty righteous people could be found.
Seeing God’s willingness to listen, Abraham continued to plead, gradually lowering the number from fifty to forty-five.
Then to forty, thirty, twenty, and finally ten.
Each time, God assured Abraham that He would not destroy the city if even ten righteous people were found.
Throughout this exchange, Abraham remained humble yet persistent.
He acknowledged God’s justice while appealing for His mercy, knowing fully well that only God can save.
In the end, despite Abraham’s intercession, Sodom was destroyed because there were far too few righteous people.
But, God remembered Abraham’s plea and ensured that Lot, Abraham’s nephew, and his family were rescued before the destruction.
This rescue was possible because one man stood in the gap, making intercession on behalf of another.
Just as Abraham interceded for Sodom, our world today also needs someone to stand in the gap.
Our Nations Need One Man, One Woman
We’ve all grappled with and felt the pain of failed leadership.
Our leaders have hurt us, betrayed our trust, and taken our loyalty for granted.
As a result, they have dragged our identity through the mud, cheated us, and abandoned us.
Consequently, our daily struggles show the tough challenges we face.
However, if we truly want the world to change—if we want to overcome evil and exalt and glorify God—we must commit to praying.
It won’t be easy.
In fact, without God’s help, we cannot genuinely pray for our leaders, especially those we strongly dislike.
Nevertheless, if God has begun a good work in us—if He has saved you and me—then we have what it takes to pray for them.
Even the wicked ones, asking God, in His mercy, to restore our nations and return them to glory.
This then remains:
Will the Going Get Better When We Pray?
Rev. Billy Graham once wrote, “Prayers lifted to Almighty God can change history.”
Do you believe that things would get better if millions of believers with humble hearts consistently prayed for our nations and our world?
I believe, through faith, that they would.
Moreover, we are strongest when we pray—more powerful than with any weapon or device.
God isn’t deaf to our troubles; He hears us, understands us, and will deliver us.
And, when we pray, we shouldn’t just ask for guidance and deliverance.
We need to seek God’s forgiveness—for ourselves and our leaders—because of our wrongdoings.
We rely on Him for peace, safety, and goodwill. Therefore, we must pray for righteous leaders and citizens.
Our nations cannot survive without God’s mercy.
Our families, our children, and the world need us to continually intercede on their behalf.
So, when the going gets tough, the tough can keep going—with the help of God’s people.
In the end, we can only glorify God for who He is and what He is willing to do.
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God’s mercy upon them, and give thanks.
Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity.
1 Timothy 2:1-2
