November Blog

I’ll be honest: I’m sad, disappointed, and confused. Whether your candidate won or lost, it’s hard to ignore the weight of the moment. For so many of us, elections are about more than just policies or platforms. They represent our values, our hopes for the future, and the kind of world we want to live in. So when the results don’t line up with those hopes, it can feel like a personal loss.

And I get it. Disappointment can hit hard. It’s not just about who sits in office—it’s about what you thought that person could do, what kind of change you were praying for, and what kind of justice you wanted to see. And when the outcome isn’t what you hoped for, it’s okay to mourn that. It’s okay to feel heavy, confused, or even discouraged.

But here's what I want to say right off the bat: It’s okay to mourn. It’s okay to sit in that sadness and let yourself feel what you’re feeling. No one should be telling you to “just get over it.” Your emotions are valid. And I want you to know you don’t need to rush past them.

Ecclesiastes 3:4 says, “There is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.” Mourning isn’t something we’re supposed to avoid or stuff down. It’s part of the human experience. It’s part of living in a world that isn’t perfect, a world that doesn’t always go the way we want it to. And honestly? It’s a sign that you care. You care about the future, about your country, about your community. You care enough to be disappointed when things don’t go as planned.

It’s okay to feel that loss. And you don’t have to pretend it’s all fine just because others tell you to move on. It’s okay to sit with your disappointment, but don’t let it define you. We don’t have to stay there forever, but we do need to allow ourselves space to grieve before we can move forward.

While I understand the desire to encourage people to pick up the pieces and keep going, that kind of response can feel pretty dismissive. If you’re mourning a loss, you need room to feel those feelings. And sometimes, what you need isn’t a quick fix or a platitude—it’s a compassionate friend, someone who says, “I get it. You’re allowed to feel disappointed.”

I think one of the most damaging things that can happen in our faith communities after elections is when people are told to stop grieving or to quickly move on. That can actually deepen the pain, especially when it feels like you're supposed to just suck it up and ignore how heavy the situation feels. Let’s stop gaslighting each other. Disappointment is real, and it’s okay to be upset when things don’t turn out the way you hoped.

Romans 8:28 reminds us that "in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." That includes the disappointment we feel after an election. God is still at work, even when it doesn’t look the way we thought it would. He’s still sovereign. He’s still good. And that’s a hope that transcends any political outcome. 

I want to be honest: I’m still processing all of this myself. I don’t have all the answers, and there’s still a lot I don’t fully understand about how God is working through all of this. But I do know that I’m not walking through this alone. And neither are you.

One of the greatest gifts we can give each other in times like this is community. We don’t have to have it all together. We don’t have to act like we’re fine when we’re not. Instead, let’s be there for each other. Let’s sit in the discomfort, acknowledge the grief, and remind each other that God is still at work.

In the days ahead, I know the emotions might still be raw. And that’s okay. But I also know that our hope is not in the hands of politicians—it’s in the hands of a sovereign God. And that hope can carry us through, even in the hardest of times. 

Father, we come before You with hearts that are heavy. We mourn what we hoped for and feel the weight of disappointment. But even in this, we choose to trust that You are still in control. We ask that You would give us peace, comfort, and wisdom as we walk through this season. Help us to be a light in a world that feels so divided, and may we always remember that our true hope rests in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.