Are you voting from your trauma?
Have you voted?
No? Wonderful. I wrote this article with you in mind.
Speaking of mind, God created us with not just the ability to think but also to make decisions and feel. These three components—mind, will, and emotions—make up the soul.
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When God crafted us with a soul, He bestowed us with a richer life, because it is the soul that defines our preferences, drives our experience with the world, and determines how we decide.
Including when it comes to voting.
Except Christians are called to walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). “Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives,” the NLT version says. Applied to the election, this means we are to vote according to the Holy Spirit’s direction.
But how are we to know which way that is? There is no Scripture that states “vote Democrat” or “choose the Republican ticket.”
So how are we to vote?
Following the example of Christian leaders can be confusing, especially because the body of Christ is divided on the issue.
I propose the following three steps.
1. Listen to Your Soul
The voice of the Lord, as the prophet Elijah discovered, is still and small (1 Kings 19:11-12). And because He is a gentleman, the Holy Spirit will never talk over the voice of our own soul. So, in order to hear from the Lord on whom He wants us to vote for, we need to first turn our attention inward. Our soul is loud and insistent, especially when compared to our spirit. The soul will not remain quiet unless we allow it to air out its opinions.
Making the time to listen to all the parts of your soul that have something to say about political candidates is an important first step.
For instance, you may have a part that:
- Urges you to vote the same way others in your world do—church, friends, boss—so you will be accepted by them.
- Frowns at a candidate’s attitude or personality.
- Loves a candidate’s gender.
- Could not be less interested in politics. This part prefers to sit out the election altogether, like the millions who chose not to vote.
Imagine a loving family holding a meeting. Members have the opportunity to share what’s on their hearts without fear of backlash. Everyone adopts a respectful posture, including when those from a different persuasion share their views. Nobody is shaming those they disagree with. There is no peer pressure toward conformity.
You can hold a similar meeting for parts of your soul.
2. The Whys
When it comes to voting, what drove your decision?
An event as crucial as the election deserves a thorough inspection on our part. So, ponder the genesis of your decision-making process. If you have suffered any form of psychological trauma—anything from neglect to sexual abuse to church hurt—but have yet to resolve the resulting emotional pain, you may be more susceptible to vote out of hurt.
Let me explain.
Trauma can leave us with the bitter pang of shame, guilt, or fear. The American Psychological Association defines trauma as an emotional response to a terrible event. By definition, then, trauma survivors loathe repeating their harrowing experiences and will do whatever it takes to fend off further threats.
In other words? Trauma survivors who vote out of their hurt will choose candidates whom they believe will keep them from further trauma. They disavow candidates who remind them of their perpetrators.
They will decide this way regardless of what the Bible may say about political candidates or their policies.
Further, because negative feelings (like the ones generated by trauma) are unpleasant, we tend to exile them. What is more readily accessible are emotions such as anger, as well as rational justifications for why a certain candidate deserves our vote.
So, if you sense a strong insistence to vote a certain way, aim these questions inward and wait for the answers:
- Where is this impulse coming from?
- Why do I feel strongly about this candidate?
- Am I voting this way because something about the candidate reminds me of my own trauma?
- What am I afraid might happen if the candidate I despise wins the election? Why does it affect me personally?
- You can still ask yourself similar questions even if you are not planning on voting. What is motivating your disinterest?
3. Make Room for God
Please consider taking a few moments to do the following exercise before casting your ballot.
In your mind’s eye, invite every part of your soul that has a say in this election to gather around you. Welcome them. Then, listen to each part with an open heart. Ask each part to explain why they feel strongly about their position.
Thank your parts for sharing.
After each part has spoken, affirm that you understand where they’re coming from.
Then, ask them to make room for one more person. Invite the Lord to join your internal family meeting. What does He want to say to you regarding this election? The Word says God’s sheep hear His voice (John 10:27-28). If you made Christ your Lord and Savior, you have an innate ability to hear from Him. His word to you will never violate the written Scripture.
At the conclusion of time, we will stand before our Maker, giving an account of how we lived out our days (Romans 14:12, 2 Corinthians 5:10)—including, I suspect, how we respond to the 2024 election.
May our answer come from a clean and clear conscience.
Dr. Audrey Davidheiser (PhD, Fuller) is a licensed psychologist in California, certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist, and IFSI-approved clinical consultant. After founding a counseling center for the Los Angeles Dream Center, she now provides IFS therapy for trauma survivors, including those with religious trauma, and assists in IFS trainings. She has been a regular writer for Crosswalk.com and columnist for iBelieve.com. Her book on how IFS helps the grieving process, Wholehearted Grieving, will be published by InterVarsity Press in 2025.
