Prayer and Politics

The woes and corruption of Illinois politics was something Jim and I had read about and had seen on television—from a distance before our daughter and her husband were hired to work at Eastern Illinois University here in Charleston.  The story, however, has become much more personal since our move here last June, just one month before the new governor was to present a state budget to the legislature.  A budget has yet to be agreed upon and passed through the legislature, and the consequences of this impasse have been very destructive to higher education, social agencies and programs all around the state.

At EIU, over 200 employees have lost their jobs, and significant furloughs have been in place for some administrators and department chairmen, and may extend further.  The atmosphere at the school has been stressful and uncertain for staff and students alike.  Several bills to get money to the schools and social agencies have been passed only to get a veto from Governor Rauner.  Two times the house has voted to override the veto, only to come up short by 2 or 3 votes.  Our state representative, who should be well aware of how central the welfare of the university is to our town, its people and the broader region, failed to vote for the override.  There have been rallies, letters to legislators, a press conference by the university president, and a march from the school to the courthouse—in the rain.  And still the wait for funding continues.

We have participated in some efforts, but we have also been praying and praying.  In Isaiah 55, we are reminded that God’s ways are higher than ours, his thoughts better.  Jesus often spoke of the importance of continued prayer, one time as He introduced a parable about the value of persistence.  “Men ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1).  In another parable in Luke 15, Jesus asks the crowd if a sheep owner wouldn’t search for his lost sheep “until he finds it,” again emphasizing perseverance. 

Although Elijah is an Old Testament character, his experience is used as an example of what persistent prayer can accomplish.  James 5:16 introduces the example with this declaration: “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” God had called Elijah and told him that there would be a period of draught and then rain would come.  So, Elijah was acting on God’s instruction and leading as he bent down to pray for rain in 1 Kings 18:42.  Seven times Elijah sent his servant to check the sky before the servant finally saw some evidence (a cloud the size of a man’s hand) his prayer was answered.

God’s words about faith, prayer and persistence can encourage us and guide us.  We can remain hopeful and expectant as we face difficult circumstances such as the ones here in Illinois.