It’s an election year, which means we have a duty to choose the best man or woman for public office at all levels of government. It also means that no matter who wins the presidency, there is a distinct possibility that conversations with family and friends at cocktail parties or around the Thanksgiving table might get a little testy (but let’s hope not!).

Regardless of the outcome of the elections, I believe it’s important that we recognize the limitation of not just governments, but also of mere humans who lead us. After all, our leaders have feet of clay, and there is only so much they can do with the power entrusted to them. Even if they do great things, they are temporary, and only God rules forever.

There’s a scene from one of my favorite movies, “Young Victoria,” that demonstrates this point.  On a stroll through the royal gardens, Queen Adelaide reminds Queen Victoria of this truth: “… politicians, whatever their creed, always resent the monarchy. They pass through; you stay.” We would do well to remember that the politicians we vote for pass through, but God, the Ultimate Monarch, stays.

So, as this unusual year winds down, I’m reminding myself that putting one’s hope in an elected official (which I’ve done more than once) can end in disappointment. And that’s why I need to focus on the admonition of Psalm 118:9, that “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes…” or elected officials, for that matter.

As I go to the polls, I need to remember that elections should always be about supporting principles that make a nation rise, not fall. They should be about policies that protect the God-given gifts of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

But over and above it all is a slogan we need to hold fast to: “In God We Trust.” Let’s put our faith in God, not governments.

* This article originally appeared in “Best Living @ Scenic Loop” magazine.