The famous painting, Prayer at Valley Forge, was painted in 1775 for a special reason by an artist from Utah, Arnold Friberg.
When Frieberg’s son came home from the Vietnam War with PTSD in the midst of backlash from American citizens, Friberg decided on painting a special gift to America “because we had to get back to where our country started…we got to get back to what we fought for.” –interview
Facing extreme food shortages, disease, and death, General Washington carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. –interview
Thus, for America’s bicentennial came this beautiful painting.
Since many question if Washington would ever have actually done this, ever, I wanted to share the following research.
CONTEMPORARIES CONFIRM WASHINGTON’S FAITH
Many of Washington’s contemporaries have unequivocally avowed he was a Christian. –The American Story: The Beginnings by David and Tim Barton, p18
This included US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall, a military officer under Washington during the War for Independence, who affirmed that Washington “was a sincere believer in the Christian faith.” –The American Story: The Beginnings by David and Tim Barton, p18
Eleanor Parke Custis, step-granddaughter of George Washington who was raised at Mount Vernon declared: Is it necessary that anyone should certify, “General Washington avowed himself to me a believer in Christianity?” –The American Story: The Beginnings by David and Tim Barton, p19
…Rev. Henry Muhlenberg, whose son John Peter was one of Washington’s military generals. After a visit to see his son during the difficult encampment at Valley Forge in 1778, he testified that “General Washinton…respects God’s Word, believes in the atonement through Christ, and bears himself in humility and gentleness.” –The American Story: The Beginnings by David and Tim Barton, p19
FASTING AND PRAYER IN WILLIAMSBURG 1774
Before becoming commander-in-chief, Washington served in the Virginia House of Burgesses which fasted and prayed in response to the British retaliation for the Boston Tea Party.
ENCOURAGED GRATITUDE OF HEART TO PROVIDENCE 1781
After the British surrender at Yorktown, Virginia in 1781, which effectively ended the war, Washington told his troops:
The General congratulates the army upon the glorious event of yesterday…Divine service is to be performed tomorrow in the several brigades and divisions. The Commander-in-Chief recommends that the troops not on duty should universally attend with that seriousness of deportment and gratitude of heart which the recognition of such reiterated and astonishing interpositions of Providence demand of us. -General Washington to his troops after their victory at the Battle of Yorktown, 1781
AMERICA – A CHRISTIAN COUNTRY
How did Americans as a whole feel about Providence?
While Frenchman Alexis de Tocqueville visited America, he was so amazed by this very topic that he wrote in his book, Democracy in America, published in 1835.
As a whole, our country used to be a country of Christian faith.
The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other. –The American Story: The Beginnings by David and Tim Barton, p19
However, one of the modern versions of Tocqueville’s book has been reprinted after overt censorship removing Tocqueville’s numerous ringing endorsements of America’s strong Christian faith and its visible presence and direct influence on American political life… –The American Story: The Beginnings by David and Tim Barton, p19 (I highly recommend their book which goes into much more detail.
I cannot find any semblance of that quote in my own copy of Tocqueville, which is a 2000 version highly recommended by the classical Christian curriculum my kids and I used to use.
However I can find it in the original copy of Democracy in America.
SEEKING GOD IN TOUGH TIMES
When I’m in the depths of despair, of course I pray, because where else do I have to turn but to Almighty God?
Meanwhile I also pray during times of praise, gratitude, and as needs fall upon my heart.
Even on 9-11 in 2001, America turned out in droves to attend church.
When we reach a hard place, all we see is God and our utter reliance on Him.
Why wouldn’t General Washington during the American Revolution?
