New Year, Same Hope

Reflecting on 2024 and Looking Ahead to 2025

With it being New Year’s Eve, it’s important to look back on what 2024 brought for our country and our state, as well as to recalibrate our hearts, minds, and attitudes for what is coming in 2025. The most notable event in 2024 was the Presidential Election, with Donald Trump winning back the Presidency and the Republican Party taking back the majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Not only did we see those victories, but we have also seen a massive shift in the political landscape as Elon Musk, Joe Rogan, and other unexpected prominent figures supported Trump and have even moved to work with him. We’ve seen the focus move to be on government efficiency and reducing spending – especially with the announcement of the Department of Government Efficiency to be led by Musk and Republican Presidential Candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.[1] Outside of presidential races and the election, our country continued to experience significant inflation and economic challenges, as well faced major foreign policy challenges with the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and in Ukraine.

As for California, Republicans flipped three Democrat seats in the Legislature – one Senate seat and two Assembly seats – as nearly every county voted more conservative than in the 2020 election.[2] We also saw the public opinion shift on major issues like crime and minimum wage with the passage of Proposition 36 to bring back felony charges for certain crimes and the rejection of Proposition 32 to raise the minimum wage. However, our state is still one of the most liberal in the country, and so we have examined legislation that passed this year – including banning Voter ID requirements across the state, prohibiting parental notification ordinances from being passed within school districts, and increasing taxes on the purchase of guns and ammunition in California. That’s just a drop in the ocean when it comes to the liberal policies enacted in our state, best exemplified in Governor Newsom’s commitment to “safeguard California’s laws and values”[3] from the incoming Trump Administration – including protecting our status as a sanctuary state for illegal immigrants, our sanctuary laws for transgender youth,[4] and legislation making us a safe haven for abortion up to and past birth.[5] So, it’s a mixed bag for California when it comes to the political strides we have made this year.

In 2025, Conservatives can certainly look ahead to President Trump taking office in January, as well as the benefits and positive movement that will come from his work with a Republican Legislative Branch. After all, Trump has promised major reforms in stronger immigration and border security, lower taxes, to “drill, baby, drill” – also known as domestic oil production, and a reformed healthcare plan. Culturally, a Republican Administration offers hope for advocating for parental rights, free speech, and restored religious freedom. From a foreign policy perspective, President Trump maintained a peaceful presence in the world during his first term as President and has promised to restore peace by supporting Israel and ending the war in Ukraine. While living in California may mean that not all the privileges of a Republican Administration are ours for the taking – given the high taxes and cost of living here, as well as legislation that fights against the federal tone on key issues I mentioned earlier, we can certainly all benefit from safer foreign policy, stronger immigration enforcement across the country as a whole, and lower federal taxes.

It would seem that conservatives have a pretty positive outlook for the new year.

The Price of Politics and Examples of Political Failure

Even with the winds of change coming to the White House in 20 days, I want to challenge us to remember as we walk into the New Year that our hope can never be found in a politician or in politics itself. It is easy when political tides start to turn in a direction we favor and think everything will be restored. I have to remind myself that whether the culture or party in power is with you or against you doesn’t change the reality that politics is a bad place to put hope. Our love for our country, our resolve for change, and our ultimate hope has to be rooted in something deeper than just the political direction that America moves every four years.

What prompts me to say that? Well, for one thing, we have countless examples of political failures throughout American history. Let’s go through a few of these to remember just how much political power can corrupt people. Most notable of course, is the Watergate Scandal during President Nixon’s Presidency. Just as a refresher in case you’ve forgotten the details, the Nixon administration was caught spying on the President’s political opponents during the 1972 presidential election. Five men connected to the campaign broke into the DNC’s headquarters at the Watergate Complex to steal documents and wiretap phones. White House Tapes caught Nixon’s express knowledge and involvement in the scandal on recording, leading to his inevitable resignment from office.[6] Nixon failed the American people by lying about Watergate; he not only engaged in illegal behavior, but the people could no longer trust his word either. Nixon himself put it this way, “I let down my friends. I let down the country. I let down our system of government—the dreams of all those young people that ought to get into government, but they think it's all too corrupt. I let the American people down. And I have to carry that burden with me for the rest of my life."[7]

While Nixon is the only President to have ever resigned, he isn’t the only politician to have failed the American people. Corruption of politicians isn’t a new phenomenon. Take the Teapot Dome Scandal for instance, which occurred 100 years ago during the 1920s. The Secretary of the Interior during the Harding Administration, Albert Fall, secretly leased the rights to drill for oil on federal lands to two oil companies in exchange for bribes. He made $400,000, which is equivalent to millions of dollars today, off the hidden leases, and he was the first cabinet member to be convicted of a felony.[8]

Even outside of these notorious and noisy scandals that are well-known among the pages of history, just in the past four years we have watched our politicians fail us. There are many policy decisions I could list, but there are none so spectacular as President Biden’s withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. During President Trump’s first term, he had reduced American troops from 12,000 servicemen and women to just 2,500 through an agreement conditioned on Taliban efforts to implement counterterrorism strategies. The small amount of U.S. military remaining in Afghanistan were there to ensure the Taliban continued to comply with the deal. President Biden reversed the conditions that had been set in place under Trump and announced a rushed and public withdrawal of all our servicemembers from the country. Thirteen U.S. servicemembers were killed as a result, hundreds of our citizens were left in country without a way to escape, and videos circulated of men literally falling out of the sky as they clung to planes that were leaving Afghanistan as their only potential escape. The Afghan military fell to Taliban control and translators who had worked with the United States begged the Biden Administration for help as they were the prime targets for Taliban violence. Their pleas were met with silence, with no gratitude or duty owed to them for their service to our country.[9] Maybe the worst outcome of all since the withdrawal has been the treatment of women and girls under Taliban rule – directly a result of Joe Biden’s failed leadership. Women have been banned from education beyond the sixth grade,[10] from showing any of their bare face in public requiring them to wear full burkas that even cover their eyes,[11] from speaking outside of their homes,[12] and from receiving medical training – while also making it illegal for women to receive medical care from males.[13] It’s safe to say this complete handing over of the Afghanistan government to the Taliban, who subsequently have worked to dehumanize and erase women, will go down in history as one of the most disastrous failures by a politician of all time.

Beyond politicians failing the public and disappointing the will of the people, many have also shown us time and time again case studies not just on political failures, but of personal failures as well. Take President Kennedy for example. JKF is known as a beloved President due to his charisma and charm, and the fact that he was the youngest president to hold office. But, even as he encouraged his fellow Americans to take action, fought for equal rights, and pushed for the United States to do the unthinkable by landing a man on the moon,[14] he personally worked long hours[15] and faced rumors of frequent infidelity,[16] both of which strained his marriage and family life. Perhaps most famous was his alleged affair with actress Marilyn Monroe.[17]

JFK is far from the only politician to have failed in family life. A similar yet more extreme story is that of John Edwards, a former U.S. Senator and Presidential Candidate, who engaged in an extramarital affair while his wife was battling a cancer diagnosis.[18] He was even indicted for using campaign funds to hide his mistress while he was campaigning as a Democratic Presidential Candidate in 2008.[19] His mistress would go on to have a child that he admitted was his daughter.[20] The scandal ruined not only his political career, but any semblance of his family life.

Even outside of U.S. politics, politicians in other countries have disappointed and abandoned their families as well, and in more ways than just infidelity. Take Margaret Thatcher, British Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990, known as “the Iron Lady” because of her refusal to compromise in politics.[21] Her children wrote that she was often preoccupied with work and that they never felt close to their mother. While they admired her hard work, she was never “off duty,” which affected their family life. Thatcher admitted in 1995, that, “If I had my time again, I wouldn’t go into politics because of what it does to your family.”[22]

The point of recalling all these stories, scandals, and personal failures is to prove that politics and politicians are a poor place to put your hope, regardless of what you believe they will do for your country.

The Beauty of Purpose

What exactly should we be focused on as we enter 2025? I want to encourage you that no matter what the new year brings – whether our politicians do what they have promised (which some of them might) or if they fail and disappoint us (which many of them will), that your purpose remains steadfast. That what you do, the outlook you have, the influence you can make, is not limited by a political party or person. You can still choose, no matter what, to have hope and joy; you can still work to make change around you.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: change starts small, and it starts within communities. It’s why local and state politics are so important and can’t be left out of the conversation. There are counties and school boards and districts in California that disagree with the state government and are fighting back. There are states across our country that disagree with the federal government and are working to effect change. That all starts with people, with families, with churches, and with communities that know what they believe and resolve to live out their values, despite what the government has to say about it. It starts with women raising their children day in and day out – doing the thankless work of changing diapers, cooking endless meals, wiping up messes, and teaching their children values that outlast politics and the American experiment altogether. It starts with men taking on the responsibility to provide for their families, being unashamed to speak out for what they believe, loving their wives and kids, and serving in their churches. It starts with young people taking the initiative to think seriously about the problems facing our culture and our country, and making the choice to get involved for the greater good, even at personal cost. 

Where True Hope is Found

But ultimately, even finding purpose in family and community isn’t enough. That purpose must come from somewhere, from hope that is rooted in something. True hope can only ever be found in the truth of the gospel, the freedom offered in laying down your life to serve the God who created you, loves you, and calls you into relationship with Him. It is only when you know the character of God, rest in the redemption He offers, trust in His Providence, and submit your life to His will that you can face whatever the political headwinds bring your way. You can only wake up in the morning with joy and determination if you know that you serve a God who is far above princes, rulers, presidents, and politicians. Even conservative values are not enough to offer you true hope, lasting hope, that restores your soul and reconciles you to God.

That is because true hope cannot only extend to this life, it must extend past this life into death. Anything that offers you hope in this life, but leaves you on your own in death, is worthless. Conservatism may be good insofar as creating an orderly society, but it is rooted and anchored in Christian values, without which it would be utterly lost and aimless; it only offers hope for this life, in this country where it is allowed to thrive. There is only one Person, one reality that can offer you hope in this life, wherever you live and whoever reigns, and ultimately in death. It is outlined for us in the very first question of the Heidelberg Catechism of 1563:

“What is your only comfort in life and in death? Answer: That I am not my own, but belong – body and soul, in life and in death – to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.”[23]

Without Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you are hopeless. You are condemned in your sin. You can never work your way back to a relationship with God or be worthy to be in the presence of His holiness. Your efforts in this life will be temporary at best and meaningless at worst. Only knowing Christ as your Savior, only trusting His goodness and grace to set you free from yourself, only believing in His providential care to work all things together for your good, will give you the hope you need to continue year after year, to live a faithful life, and to die a rewarding death.

Christians can engage in politics, in 2025 and beyond, because they are rooted and built up in their relationship with God – who will never shift or change like a politician, who will keep all of His promises, who is the essence of goodness and truth, who will never fail us, and who has promised to one day restore all things to justice and everlasting peace. It may be a new year, but He is the same God, and He offers us the same hope – a better hope than could ever be offered by a President or Administration.

Takeaways for Californians

This is the hope I want us to take into 2025 with us – as a country, as a state, and as a community. Because when we trust in God as our source of truth and as our Lord, then we find the strength we need every day to wake up and read the headlines, to engage in the fight without getting tired, to push our culture and our government to change for the better, and to align the world around us with the heart of God – a heart of justice, compassion, and real love. Without that, you will burn out. You will be disappointed. You will want to give up. But with that hope, you will accomplish change that has eternal purpose and significance. You will endure, no matter who our Governor or our President is. And most importantly, you will rest at night knowing our God wins.

References:

[1] Wilkins, Emily. “DOGE’s Musk, Ramaswamy Want Congress to Pass Huge Spending Cuts. That’s a Tough Sell.” CNBC, December 6, 2024. https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/06/doges-musk-ramaswamy-try-to-sell-congress-on-huge-spending-cuts.html.

[2] Sabalow, Ryan. “California’s Republican Caucus Is Growing and More Diverse, but It’s a Long Way From Power.” CalMatters, November 27, 2024. https://calmatters.org/politics/2024/11/california-republicans-legislative-diversity/?utm_source=chatgpt.com.

[3] Koseff, Alexei, and Jeanne Kuang. “Newsom Calls Special Session to ‘Trump-proof’ California.” CalMatters, November 8, 2024. https://calmatters.org/politics/capitol/2024/11/gavin-newsom-special-session-trump-resistance/.

[4] California Legislative Information. “Bill Text  - SB-107 Gender-affirming Health Care.,” October 3, 2022. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB107.

[5] California Legislative Information. “Bill Text - AB-2223 Reproductive Health.,” September 28, 2022. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB2223.

[6] Richard Nixon Foundation. “Watergate Explained: A Resource Guide | Nixon Library Foundation,” August 9, 2022. https://www.nixonfoundation.org/watergate-explained/.

[7] “Watergate: The Aftermath | Miller Center.” Miller Center, July 27, 2017. https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/educational-resources/watergate/watergate-aftermath.

[8] Amanda Onion, “Teapot Dome Scandal - Definition, Dates & Effects,” HISTORY, May 2, 2023, https://www.history.com/topics/1920s/teapot-dome-scandal.

[9] Inhofe, Jim. “Biden’s Afghanistan Pullout Was a Predictable, Preventable Disaster.” Foreign Policy, August 19, 2022. https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/08/15/afghanistan-withdrawal-pullout-military-taliban-chaos-evacuation-biden-inhofe/.

[10] Butt, Riazat. “Taliban Have Deprived 1.4 Million Girls of Schooling: UNESCO | AP News.” AP News, August 15, 2024. https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-girls-education-bans-da2c1ec7b1b5e27c6bcf34052553860b.

[11] Kelly, Annie, and Zahra Joya. “‘Frightening’ Taliban Law Bans Women From Speaking in Public.” The Guardian, August 26, 2024. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/article/2024/aug/26/taliban-bar-on-afghan-women-speaking-in-public-un-afghanistan.

[12] Ibid.

[13] United States Department of State. “Taliban Bans Women From Receiving Medical Training  - United States Department of State,” December 11, 2024. https://www.state.gov/taliban-bans-women-from-receiving-medical-training/.

[14] John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. “The Legacy of JFK.” JFK Legacy, n.d. https://jfklegacy.org/.

[15] John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. “Life of John F. Kennedy,” n.d. https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/life-of-john-f-kennedy#:~:text=President%20Kennedy%20worked%20long%20hours,read%20reports%20from%20his%20advisers.

[16] Lembo, Allie, and Erin McDowell. “Inside John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy’s Relationship, From Their Courtship to His Assassination.” Business Insider, July 24, 2024. https://www.businessinsider.com/relationship-timeline-john-jfk-jackie-kennedy-2018-9#1947-before-meeting-his-future-wife-john-f-kennedy-was-climbing-the-political-ranks-he-was-elected-to-the-house-of-representatives-for-massachusetts-in-1947-1.

[17] Nolasco, Stephanie. “Marilyn Monroe’s Affair With JFK Confirmed on Wiretap by Private Investigator, Book Claims.” Fox News, May 2, 2024. https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/marilyn-monroes-affair-jfk-confirmed-wiretap-heard-private-investigator-book.

[18] ABC News, “Timeline: Edwards Affair Through the Years,” June 3, 2011, https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/edwards-scandal-timeline-john-edwards-rielle-hunter-affair/story?id=9621755.

[19] ABC News. “Indicted John Edwards Insists ‘I Did Not Break the Law,’” June 4, 2011. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/john-edwards-face-indictment-today/story?id=13750805.

[20] ABC News, “Timeline: Edwards Affair Through the Years.”

[21] U.S. Department of State. “Margaret Thatcher.” Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, n.d. https://eca.state.gov/ivlpprofiles/margaret-thatcher.

[22] Fricker, Martin. “Margaret Thatcher: She Divided a Nation and Her Family Too.” The Mirror, April 10, 2013. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/margaret-thatcher-divided-nation-family-1819434.

[23] Christian Reformed Church. “Heidelberg Catechism,” n.d. https://www.crcna.org/welcome/beliefs/confessions/heidelberg-catechism.