If These Days Have Shaken Your Faith

A Christian reader messaged me this morning:

"I feel like this election has broken something in me."

I've heard these sentiments countless times over the past couple of months from people of faith who are finding themselves on this side of Election Day, struggling to believe what they once believed.

They're looking back at all they've seen and experienced during the campaign from family members, pastors, and strangers all in the name of God, and they're trying to reconcile these things with a God who is love.

They've watched the Church they called home being the absolute worst of itself, and they now feel decidedly estranged from it, no longer certain whether or not they fit anymore.

They are limping through this year, depleted, bruised, and quietly terrified they may have lost their faith for good.

If you're in that place right now, friend—welcome. You're among many friends struggling in solidarity along with you.

And we have reason to be burdened. There are certain religious illusions that feel shattered for many of us this year:

The one where love does indeed trump hate.
The one where bad people don't prosper.
The one where our faithfulness doesn't fail us
The one where diversity is treasured.
The one where truth actually means something fixed and sure.
The one where the bullies are brought down.
The one where the Church stands for what is right at any cost.
The one where evil doesn't win.