Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:16-18
We’re just finishing our July 4th weekend. We thank God for his many blessings to us as a nation. But in our current national moment – one marked by division, outrage, confusion, and fear – many of us are asking: What can I do? For followers of Jesus, one of the oldest and most powerful answers is also one of the hardest: we pray.
But even that can feel like a daunting assignment. How do we pray for a country in turmoil? Where do we begin when we’re unsure how to speak to God about politics, injustice, or our fellow citizens?
Last week I listened to a podcast from a journalist named David French, who is a Christian, a lawyer, and a columnist for the New York Times. He shared some important thoughts about how he prays for America in these troubled times. Today, I thought it might be helpful to share some of those main points.
He lists 5 major areas of prayer. Today, we’ll look briefly at the first two. Then, in a later message we’ll look at the final three.
1 PRAY FOR PEACE / Immediate Calm
Eph. 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
We begin at the surface level, and with the visible fractures that dominate the news: protests, social unrest, culture wars, and online shouting matches. Our first instinct may be to “pick a side,” but instead we need to begin with a simple, powerful plea: “God, grant us peace.”
Not “peace-as-avoidance” or “peace-at-any-cost” or pretending the problems don’t exist. Instead, when we pray for God’s peace in these situations, we are begging that God would still angry crowds, lower the volume of voices, calm emotions, and help us avoid violence. We pray this for ALL – the protestors, law enforcement officials, political leaders, and vulnerable communities.
Prayer
“Lord, restrain our hands and our words. Break the cycle of outrage and vengeance. Let peace descend upon me, my neighborhood, my local government, and my state. Let this peace begin with me.”
2 PRAY FOR LONG-TERM JUSTICE
Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Peace, as vital as it is, cannot stand without justice. “If you’re praying for peace without praying for justice, you’re only applying a bandage to a deeper wound.” Justice isn’t only about headlines. It’s about systems, structures, and laws. It’s also about the daily choices we make – who we listen to, whose pain we validate, whose voices we believe?
We must pray for holistic justice – not justice rooted in the political party we think is “most right” but justice rooted in God’s vision for shalom. Justice requires empathy. It requires truth. And it rarely aligns perfectly with any political tribe.
Prayer:
God of truth and righteousness, awaken us to the injustices that persist around us. May our laws reflect your mercy. May our systems uplift the weak. And may we not turn away from what is hard or uncomfortable. Open my eyes further to true shalom and reveal to me my unique role in your bigger restoration of all things.
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Praying for our nation at this time is not always easy. As mentioned above, it can be frustrating and confusing at times. But let’s stay faithful in our prayers! Praying for peace (immediate calm) in difficult situations, and praying for long-term justice…. are just the first two ways that David French suggests that we pray. In another message, we’ll look at the final three: Praying for Grace, Praying for Repentance, and Praying for Reconciliation. In the meantime, I recommend that you listen to the entire podcast for yourself. It’s around 45 minutes in length….but well worth your time.
David French’s “Five Best Ways to Pray For America”
(the above is a summary…and a few important quotes…..from the message shared during our worship on July 6, 2025.)
Japanese Congregational Church 