Retreat is not an option.

Eva Andrade | November 6, 2026

Election night didn’t turn out the way I’d hoped.  There were wins and losses.

Social media, as it often does, turned into a battering ram of “told you so,” “about time,” and “take that, you evil opponent.”  One friend said to me that the “blocking of people will now begin.”

Election results bring both celebration and disappointment. We are grateful for the wins. We acknowledge the losses. And we remember that our responsibility to Hawaiʻi’s families does not end when the votes are counted. In fact, Galatians 6:9 reminds us, “Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

For those discouraged by this election, the disappointment is real. When you have prayed, volunteered, voted, and encouraged others to participate, this loss can feel deeply personal, and we do not have to pretend otherwise.  In fact, I think it should embolden us to look toward the horizon for our living HOPE, Jesus Christ.  His Kingship is not in question, nor was it on the ballot.

In truth, disappointment cannot become surrender.

Retreat is not an option.

Let us be reminded that the families we serve still need a voice, the children whose futures depend on decisions made today still need advocates. And the work of building relationships, speaking truth, and holding elected officials accountable continues, regardless of who holds office.

Every win deserves gratitude, but it also carries responsibility. Electing someone is only the beginning. And when the person elected is someone we did not support, we still have an opportunity to build a relationship and work together where we can. We must stay engaged, encourage good decisions, and speak up when our leaders fall short.

The losses deserve honest reflection. Where do we need to listen more carefully? Build stronger relationships? Help more people understand what is at stake? We can (and must) learn without abandoning our convictions.

There is a familiar saying that it is always darkest right before dawn. In a difficult season, dawn can seem far away. Faithfulness means continuing the work even when we cannot yet see what it will produce.

So we will pray, show up and serve our neighbors. This is the season to prepare for the work ahead because we know that it will not be an easy road to take.

Our hope rests in Jesus, and our responsibility is to remain faithful with what our Heavenly Father has placed before us.

Take heart, Hawaiʻi. There is work to do, and we are still here to do it. For such a time as this.