On a recent episode of the We Need to Talk podcast, Pastor Otha Turnbough delivered a bold and unfiltered perspective on leadership, politics and the sovereignty of God. Speaking candidly about the tension between public opinion and divine appointment, Turnbough challenged listeners to reconsider how they discern the rise and fall of leaders.
Rather than viewing leadership through the narrow lens of personal comfort or political preference, he pointed to a biblical pattern that reveals something far deeper at work.
“When the people pick the leader, God does not like him,” Turnbough says. “When God picks the leader, the people don’t like them.
That tension, he explains, is nothing new.
Throughout Scripture, the leaders chosen by God were often rejected before they were received. “They didn’t like Moses. They didn’t like Jesus. They didn’t like David at first. [The] only reason they accepted David is because he beat Goliath down, and then King Saul still tried to kill him,” he continues. Even after proving himself, David endured jealousy, betrayal and persecution—evidence that divine selection does not guarantee public approval.
Turnbough argues that much of the modern frustration surrounding leadership stems from misplaced expectations. “So, when God picks a leader, and here’s the other problem, God picks a leader based on his purposes. He does not pick a leader so that you can keep your health insurance. God’s got bigger things to think about than your health insurance. He has bigger things to think about than your little Social Security…He’s got bigger things than egg prices and gas prices, which by the way, have come down since [Trump’s] been in office the second term.”
Referencing The Paradigm by Jonathan Cahn, Turnbough says the book reshaped perspectives for many readers. “Every person that read that book said, ‘I was wrong about Donald Trump.’ Every person. And guess what? I’ve told people before you argue with me, read the book.” Turnbough’s appeal makes a profound point: before reacting emotionally, seek understanding spiritually.
To order Jonathan Cahn’s book, The Paradigm, visit Amazon.com.
His point is not merely political—it is spiritual. When God anoints someone for a purpose, that calling often ignites spiritual warfare. “The problem is that whenever God uses you, Satan will seek to mess up your character,” Turnbough warns. Attacks intensify when purpose is involved. According to him, spiritual opposition is often confirmation that something significant is at stake.
Ultimately, Turnbough’s message drives listeners back to a foundational biblical truth—God is sovereign over leadership. Scripture reminds us that it is the Lord who raises up kings and removes them. Public opinion may shift. Approval ratings may rise and fall. But heaven’s purposes stand. Leaders come and go, controversies flare and fade, yet the throne of God remains unshaken.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
