Stumbling is part of the process

And as for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him. Daniel 11:1

Wandering around through the commentaries of the internet this hefty prophesy confuses all but the most dogmatic crackpots.  But at the very least, this prophecy conclusively shows God is in control and world events happen according to His plan and purpose.  

And that when kings do what they will, the righteous will suffer.  And they will mess up sometimes, and that's to be expected.  And some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time.

And the tangle of political intrigue is part and parcel of life here on earth.  He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.  But woe to those who put their trust in this system, for when the time comes, he will come to his end, and he will have none to help him.  

But beyond general “Buck up, cheerio” admonitions, and hope in these most disheartening of political times, I am going to meditate on and put into practice the idea that if the archangel Gabriel came down to confirm and strengthen Darius the Mede as he struggled to lead an ornery people in challenging times, I too, can stand up to confirm and strengthen and pray for those in leadership around me.