In 2020, an unknown virus, COVID-19, gripped the world with anxiety. We remember it as if it were yesterday. Governments were overwhelmed, experts were sounding the alarm, and hearts were filled with uncertainty. Now, in 2025, a new wave of fear is sweeping through. This time, the virus isn’t biological, but political. Its name … you may already guess it. Some see it as a threat, others as a solution.
January 20th was the inauguration of the new President of the United States.
The recently elected American president, Donald Trump, leaves no one indifferent, least of all his northern neighbours. Among his most thunderous declarations, his promise to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian exports from his first day in power is particularly concerning. The economic repercussions could, without exaggeration, be devastating in the short term.
But this story isn’t new. Canada knows “Uncle Sam” well—this giant neighbour, as unpredictable as it is unavoidable. Our relations, though close, have never been without friction. And, as history shows, these frictions are often a source of anxiety.
When Uncle Sam Makes Us Tremble
Here are three significant moments when American political decisions gave Canadians cold sweats:
1. The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962): While the world was on the brink of nuclear conflict, Canada, as a NATO ally, found itself caught in a dangerous game, its eyes fixed on the unpredictability of the United States and the Soviet Union.
2. The Vietnam War (1960s-1970s): Canada’s refusal to support American intervention highlighted diplomatic tensions, as thousands of Americans crossed the border to escape conscription.
3. The Iraq War (2003): By rejecting the United States’ call to participate in the invasion, Canada affirmed its independence, but at the cost of a notable cooling of relations with Washington.
These episodes remind us that Canadian-American relations, though solid, are often marked by challenges. Yet, history continues, and God, in His divine providence, watches over His children. In all circumstances, the Church is called to trust in God, knowing that He provides and directs through human leaders, for the ultimate good of His people.
A Christian Response
Faced with these recurring challenges, how should Christians react? President Trump divides: some see him as a defender of conservative values more aligned with a Christian vision, while others fear the repercussions of his policies. However, whether one perceives his decisions as a “virus” or an “antidote,” one truth remains: our peace does not rest on a politician.
As the Apostle Paul writes: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).
This isn’t the first time world events have sparked fear, and it won’t be the last. But God, in His sovereignty, reigns over history. John Piper, in his book Providence, puts it this way: “God has revealed His intentional sovereignty over good and evil to intensify human worship and break human despair.”
A quote from Elisabeth Elliot summarizes this perspective well: “God is never taken by surprise. Nothing escapes His control. His love is eternal, His promises are sure, and His providence governs every detail of our lives.”
A Call to Pastors
In times of uncertainty, pastors have a unique responsibility: to guide believers in firm trust in God’s sovereignty. We must teach that true peace comes neither from a stable government nor a flourishing economy, but from the certainty that God directs all things for His glory.
In these times, it is essential to remind our brothers and sisters that: “Our kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36).
The Scriptures offer us unshakeable comfort. They encourage us not to react with fear or panic, but with faith and prayer, knowing that God cares for His Church through all trials.
Pray, Rather Than Panic
To maintain a biblical perspective, here are some prayer suggestions:
1. Pray for leaders: Ask our sovereign Father to grant them wisdom and justice, but also that they may be touched by His truth (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
2 Pray for anxious hearts: That Canadians, Americans, and all believers find peace in God’s sovereignty (John 14:27).
3. Pray for renewed faith: Remember that our hope rests in Christ, not in human leaders (Hebrews 13:8).
An Unchanging Providence
History teaches us that storms pass and God remains. Whether it’s a virus, tariffs, or an unpredictable president, believers are called to fix their eyes on Christ, the only true King.
As we live through these days of uncertainty, let us remember Jesus’ words:
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34).
History repeats itself, but God is faithful. History repeats itself, but our God does not change. He calls us to walk in peace, convinced that, whatever happens, He directs all things for His glory and our good.
