There’s a tendency we all have to get caught up in personalities—charisma, charm, and even flaws and shortcomings. We look at leaders and often see them for their human traits rather than the bigger picture of how God might be working through them. But here’s the truth: God can work through anyone. When God wins an election, it doesn’t mean we’ve elected a perfect person, and it doesn’t mean every choice that leader makes will align with our ideals or values. It means that God is using that moment, that election, to accomplish something greater, something we may not fully understand.

The Bible shows us time and again that God’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). He looks beyond the exterior, beyond the personality, and sees the heart—and only He knows it fully. When we look at elections, when we judge leaders, we often make the mistake of thinking we can judge a person’s worthiness or intent. But God sees what we don’t. Our job isn’t to judge the person’s heart but to pray for our leaders and focus on the policies, the values, and the impact they will bring.

Let’s talk about the word “policy.” Policy isn’t a flashy term; it’s not what draws people into passionate conversations. But policy is powerful because it shapes the society we live in. The values embedded in policies affect families, communities, and the direction of a nation. Policies rooted in justice, truth, and respect for God’s guidance are what matter because they align with His law—His rules that He laid down for us to follow.

Consider the people God chose to lead throughout the Bible. Many of them were deeply flawed, imperfect individuals—yet God used them in profound ways, not because of their own worthiness, but because of His greater purpose.

Think about King David. David is one of the Bible’s most beloved figures, a man after God’s own heart. Yet David was far from perfect. He committed adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrated her husband’s death to cover up his own sin. David’s failures were grave, but he was also a man who repented deeply, sought God with all his heart, and desired to lead his people according to God’s ways. God used David’s lineage to bring forth Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. David’s story reminds us that God isn’t looking for perfection; He’s looking for a willing heart, a heart that desires to align with Him.

Then there’s Moses, who had a temper and even killed an Egyptian in a fit of anger. Despite Moses’ past, God chose him to lead Israel out of slavery in Egypt and to bring the people His commandments. Moses wasn’t chosen because he was a naturally gifted leader but because he was willing to follow God’s call. God worked through Moses to deliver the policies—the commandments—that became the foundation of His people’s lives. Moses was flawed, but God’s purpose was accomplished.

Gideon is another example. Gideon was hesitant, fearful, and full of doubts. When God called him to save Israel from the Midianites, Gideon tested God multiple times, needing reassurance that he was truly called. But God saw something in Gideon that Gideon didn’t see in himself. God used him to defeat the Midianites, showing that victory doesn’t come from human strength but from God’s power. Gideon’s personality wasn’t the source of his success; it was God’s strength working through him.

And let’s not forget Jonah, the reluctant prophet. Jonah was called by God to deliver a message to Nineveh, yet he ran in the opposite direction, trying to escape his calling. When he finally went to Nineveh, he was reluctant and even resentful. But God still used him to bring about one of the greatest revivals in the Bible. Jonah’s attitude wasn’t perfect, but God’s purpose wasn’t hindered by Jonah’s resistance.

King Cyrus of Persia is another powerful example. Cyrus wasn’t an Israelite, yet God used him to help the Israelites return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. Isaiah 45:1 even calls Cyrus “His anointed,” despite the fact that he didn’t worship the God of Israel. God used Cyrus to fulfill a prophecy and accomplish His purpose, showing that He can work through anyone, even those outside His chosen people.

Finally, let’s look at the Apostle Paul. Before his conversion, Paul (then Saul) was one of the fiercest persecutors of Christians. He actively worked against the early church, dragging believers to prison and even approving of their deaths. But God had other plans for Paul. He transformed Paul’s life, and Paul became one of the most influential apostles, spreading the gospel and writing much of the New Testament. God didn’t look at Paul’s past and see only his flaws; He saw Paul’s potential. Paul’s past was dark, but God’s grace was greater.

In each of these stories, we see imperfect people whom God used in powerful ways. They were flawed, broken, and often resistant to God’s call, but they were still part of His divine plan. These examples remind us that God doesn’t need a perfect leader to carry out His will. He uses those who are willing to be used, even if they don’t fully understand His purpose or don’t feel up to the task.

As we reflect on leadership today, it’s easy to focus on the personality of the leader—what they say, how they act, their strengths and weaknesses. But the Bible calls us to look beyond personality and focus on the impact, the values, and the policies that align with God’s principles. When leaders uphold values that align with Scripture, we should recognize that God can and does work through them, regardless of their flaws.

In the end, policies rooted in biblical values—not the personality that promotes them—will be what shapes the future. God gave us a framework. He gave us commandments. Let’s pray for our leaders to follow that framework, to let those policies reflect His truth, His justice, His mercy. Because while personalities may come and go, God’s policies, His unchanging Word, stand forever.