President Trump announced on Twitter today that he and Melania tested positive for Covid-19. Most news outlets are assuming the announcement is true.

I’ve been wrestling with how to pray for the President. I believe we should pray for our leaders, even though I don’t think the President is leading well. “Praying for the President” does not mean “agreeing with the President!”

I’m also wrestling with how to pray for the sick, especially those who have contracted Covid-19. I think God wants to heal everyone, but I don’t think God can singlehandedly heal. (I explain this in several books.) If God could alone heal anyone at any time, he’s lazy, uncaring, or off on holiday. Or God’s ways are so mysterious that I can’t recommend anyone believe in this God.

These two concerns and a healthy Facebook discussion chain prompt me to offer the prayer below. I consider it a first draft, however. I’d like to hear from you, the reader, what I should add, change, or clarify. I plan to update it.

MY PRAYER

Our Loving God,

I pray for President Donald Trump, Melania Trump, their family, advisors, and associates.

As you know, the Trumps say they tested positive for Covid-19. You know the accuracy of this announcement and the full extent of their illness. I offer this prayer assuming they have the virus.

You love everyone and everything, because you want the good of all. You love those who live mostly virtuous lives. And you love those who are far from virtuous. You seek to promote the well-being of everyone and everything, including those who – like me – sometimes sin and do evil.

I am grateful for your love!

I believe you want to heal everyone, including the President. You’re not causing or allowing the pandemic. You don’t desire evil. Illness and death are not your punishment. But you face forces, factors, actors, and circumstances resisting your healing efforts. You can’t heal singlehandedly. So not all that occurs is your will.

You are not in control, because you’re not a controlling God.

You love President Trump, his family, and associates. That’s part of what it means to love everyone. But I don’t think you “like” all they do and how they act. You’re disappointed, angry, sad, and frustrated by attitudes, actions, and policies contrary to the ways of love. And we’ve witnessed those contrary ways in recent years.

You’re urging the President to be wise, humble, and loving. You call his family and associates to the same. They don’t always respond well. But you never give up.

My prayer, then, is not that you start loving or begin to try to heal. You always love and want to heal. I don’t think you’ve given him the virus to “teach the President a lesson.” You try to teach us in whatever circumstances, good or bad. You try to squeeze good from the bad you didn’t want in the first place.

Instead, I’m asking you to give me wisdom on how I might cooperate with what you’re already doing.

Provide me insights into how I might talk, resist, promote, encourage, criticize, show compassion, and more. Inspire my imagination to love in ways that forgive, create, and seek justice. I pledge my loving cooperation.

I’m not as wise as I would like to be. I don’t love as consistently as I want. I need your help! Help me to encourage the President and others in whatever ways I can. Help me to condemn the President when he speaks or acts contrary to the common good. And give me wisdom to discern the two.

You want healthy leaders, healthy countries, and a healthy world. You love this land and these people, just as you love all lands and all people. Help me do the same.

I love you, God, and I adore you. I praise you for your excellence. You are amazing! I also thank you for your love, wisdom, and guidance. I am grateful!

Your friend and partner,

Tom

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What would you add, change, or clarify?