Over the years, we’ve heard numerous influential Christ-followers telling us how to react to America’s difficult political climate. Some have advocated institutional boycotts. Others have urged peaceful protests, enduring periods of organized prayer, prioritizing displays of love, or withdrawing from secular culture completely. All this advice can leave us feeling increasingly anxious and confused.

Most of us want to create positive change, protect our religious freedoms, and honor the Lord this election season, but how do we do this? Thankfully, God has preserved the best life-manual we could ever receive through Scripture. Sometimes, He instructs through clear directives. Other times, He uses historical narratives to show us examples to follow and those to avoid.

As I consider biblical people with the most emulating characteristics, Daniel , Esther , and John the Baptist immediately come to mind.

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Standing Firm in One’s Convictions

Daniel, introduced in the Bible book bearing his name, lived during what scholars refer to as the Babylonian captivity . He found himself transported to a foreign land when Nebuchadnezzar II dominated the southern kingdom of Judah. The king then selected Daniel and some other handsome and intelligent men from prestigious families to receive training for royal service.

Although he had access to the best meals in the land, “Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way” ( Dan. 1:8 ). Most likely, he believed the Babylonians had previously consecrated the meat to idols. His request concerned the official, who replied:

“I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”

Verses 11-14 state:

“Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, ‘Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.’ So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days."

The result? After this trial period, Daniel and his friends “looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food” ( Daniel 1:15 ).

Experiencing Persecution

Over the years, Daniel rose in prominence and power until, under a new ruler, he became one of three administrators to oversee 120 appointed satraps governing the nation. As his influence grew, the other royal officials became jealous and sought to discredit him. Unable to find any corruption, they determined to use his faith against him.

Together, they set a trap for Daniel by convincing the king to create an edict commanding idolatry . Daniel, however, continued to pray to God Almighty, thereby defying the new law. As a result, the king threw him in a den of lions. To onlookers, this meant certain death. But God Almighty kept Daniel safe and used the situation to reveal His power and authority to a pagan ruler and all who learned of the miraculous event.

Humble Strength

Both instances demonstrate a powerful way to respond to potentially compromising circumstances. Notice, Daniel demonstrated quiet confidence and showed those in authority the respect due their positions. He didn’t cower in fear, nor did he retaliate in anger. Instead, he remained calm and, in regard to the food, politely issued a request. When facing a brutal execution, he kept silent, trusting God to either protect him or stay with him in his hardship.

Undeniably, his wisdom, strength, and courage came directly from his time spent with the Lord. One must assume, in each difficult encounter, the Holy Spirit directed His steps, telling Daniel when to speak and how to respond in the most challenging circumstances.

God promises to do the same for us. In Mark 13 , after warning the disciples to expect persecution, Jesus said, “Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit” ( Mark 13:11 ). The Lord made a similar promise in Isaiah 30:21 , which reads, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Sometimes, He leads us to take a bold stand, relinquishing the outcome to Him.

Other times, He asks us to intentionally and strategically evoke change, as He did with a young Jewish woman who became the queen of Persia. 

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Using One’s Influence for Good

By this point in world history, Persia had invaded Babylon and captured their capital city. In 539 BC, a ruler named Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to their homeland. According to Ezra 2 , over 42,000 people traveled back to Jerusalem. Many others, however, chose to stay and continue the life they’d built after spending seven decades in a foreign land.

Esther and her cousin Mordecai , who also functioned as her guardian, were among those who remained. Eventually, a series of events brought Esther to the palace, where she captured the favor and approval of the king. “So, he set a royal crown on her head” and made her queen ( Esther 2:17 ).

Sometime later, Mordecai offended a royal official named Haman by refusing to pay him homage. Enraged, Haman devised a plan to annihilate all of Mordecai’s people. Upon learning this, Mordecai urged Esther to speak to the king on the Jew’s behalf. This terrified her, and for good reason. Any man or woman who approached the king without being summoned would be executed, unless he spared their lives by extending his gold scepter.

Costly Obedience

Understanding the danger, her cousin sent her this response: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” ( Esther 4:13-14 ).

To live well, we must ask ourselves a similar question: Why did God place me in this location at this precise time in history? How is He wanting me to use my gifts, time, experiences, and position to impact others for good?

Although Esther wrestled with her cousin’s question, she ultimately risked her life for the sake of her people. Her actions, blessed by God, prevented the massacre of, by some estimates, over 750,000 individuals.

While we may not gain audience with a national leader as Esther did, we can all use our voices to help those who’ve lost theirs.

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In our previous examples, the people lived out their faith by working within the present system. Both Daniel and Esther used their favor to make respectful requests, most likely by God’s leading. In the New Testament, however, we see a Spirit-led prophet called John the Baptist take a vastly different approach. 

Drawing a clear distinction between his ministry and the corrupt religious leaders of his day, John completely separated himself from “respectable” society. He spent his time in the wilderness, wearing garments made from camel’s hair and dining on locusts and wild honey. Like Daniel, Esther, and Mordecai, he refused to cower to the power-players who sought to oppress people. Unlike the others previously discussed, however, his resistance was anything but quiet.

Luke tells us that he called the crowds who came to him for baptism a brood of vipers . He made his boldest move, however, when he confronted Herod , who governed Judah, numerous times for his incestuous marriage . His words, most likely bluntly spoken, landed him in prison and ultimately, got him beheaded.

In this, he demonstrated the same courageous faith as Daniel and Esther. When one considers the totality of John’s life, we also see a deep commitment to and dependence upon God. In fact, Scripture demonstrates that each of the individuals we discussed prioritized prayer. They revealed their love for God in their commitment to honor Him, even at their own peril. Yet, they did so in vastly different ways.

This teaches us important principles regarding how to live: 

1. While God wants all His children to honor Him, regardless of the political climate, His individual guidance will be as unique as our personalities, experiences and circumstances.

2. We’re most apt to hear God and fulfill His will when we prioritize Him above self-preservation.

3. He moves His plans forward through the obedience of His children, not human wisdom or strategizing.  

4. No political system or national leader can thwart the pre-ordained purposes of God.

5. People of prayer shine God’s light in the darkest circumstances, bring hope to those who have lost theirs, and leave the greatest eternal impact.

The political issues that face our nation are serious and important, thereby warranting our concern. But when our concerns drive us to fear-based responses or human logic and strategies, our ability to hear God’s perfect guidance decreases. Whenever we turn to God, however, listen for His voice, and determine to obey however He leads, we become life-changing instruments in our Father’s apt, history-holding plans.

We aren’t responsible for fixing our world’s problems. We couldn’t do so, even if we tried. Our role is to discover God’s will for us at each moment and then to respond with faith-driven obedience, trusting Him to take care of everything else. He’s more than proven Himself capable.

For additional content on this topic, check out the Faith Over Fear podcast episode titled Faith-Filled Faithfulness in Political Uncertainty .

Author: Jennifer Slattery is a writer and speaker who co-hosts the Faith Over Fear podcast and, along with a team of 6, the Your Daily Bible Verse podcast. She’s addressed women’s groups, Bible studies, and taught at writers conferences across the nation. She’s the author of Building a Family and numerous other titles and maintains a devotional blog at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com.

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