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What was
Lincoln’s life like when he issued
the NDP
Proclamation in 1863?
On April 30th, 1863,
President Lincoln issued his call for a national day of prayer.
On that day he was awaiting news of a hopefully climatic battle
as Union forces began to move against Lee’s army in hopes of
capturing the Confederate capital of Richmond. This effort would
end in humiliating Union defeat later in the week at
Chancellorsville. Lincoln’s administration continued under
harsh criticism from all sides.
Union armies had been repeatedly
defeated, immobilized, and demoralized-- especially in the wake
of the crushing defeat at Fredericksburg before Christmas of
1862. Though he had issued the Emancipation Proclamation on
January 1, 1863, it was still a subject of much debate even
amongst his supporters. The border states were in great
turmoil. Foreign powers were offering war mediation which
Lincoln knew would result in the permanent severance of the
Union and perpetuation of slavery. There was widespread opinion
in his own party that he was a failure.
Lincoln was assailed by doubt,
anxiety, and he and his wife continued to grieve the death of
his beloved son Willie in the previous year. The child had died
of typhoid fever contracted from the White House water system.
In the wake of his son’s death he sought the counsel of a
Presbyterian pastor and, by many accounts, experienced personal
conversion to Christ.
Lincoln’s speeches and writings
reflect little reference to the Lord until his election as
President when he began to feel overwhelmed by the weight of
impossible responsibility for the nation. After his election,
it seems the Lord was drawing him toward real faith. Though
Lincoln never joined a denomination, it is reasonable to say he
was a God fearing believer in Christ, grief stricken for his boy
and his nation--when he issued the Day of Prayer proclamation on
April 30, 1863.
Pastor Richard Speight
Come Rest Ministries
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