“The Lord is our judge; the Lord is our leader; the Lord is our king— he will deliver us” (Isaiah 33:22 CEB).

As citizens of the United States, we are privileged to have three distinct branches of government to complain about (separately but equally). There are times we may feel our judges lack sound judgment, that our lawmakers make better lawbreakers, that our executives deserve to be called expletives. Their capacity for incompetence can convince us they are more likely to lead us toward destruction than rescue us from it.

Conversely, the Lord is a fair judge who holds justice and mercy in perfect tension. The Lord is an impeccable leader who acts precisely and delegates wisely. The Lord is a good king who centers the marginalized and lifts up the lowly. As we embrace the reign of God, our confidence in the future will return to us— not because we are duped by some toothless campaign promise, but because the Holy One of ancient Israel remains unwaveringly faithful.

Lord God, help us recognize your work in the world around us. Restore our faith in your coming kingdom. Amen.