Americans' trust in government has hit an all-time low. But that lack of trust hasn't always been a part of the American experience. A chart published by the Pew Research Center shows the dramatic decline. The collapse began during the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson, which overlapped with the Vietnam War. The 1970s—thanks to Vietnam and Watergate—sped up the loss of faith in the government. After a slight resurgence during the 1980s, the trend line for the past few decades is quite clear. With the exception of relatively brief spikes that overlap with the first Gulf War and the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the number of people who trust the government has been steadily declining. In February 2014, just 24 percent said they trust the government "always" or "most of the time."

Exit polling from the 2014 midterms makes clear that things haven't improved in the trust department since that Pew poll. Just 20 percent said they trusted the government to do what's right "always" or "most" of the time, while 79 percent said they trusted the government only "some" of the time or "never."

The collapse of our collective trust in the government—and, by extension, its ability or willingness to help solve problems—has massive reverberations for politicians. They are considered less-than-honest brokers by large numbers of the American public, meaning that everything they say or do is viewed with suspicion. Sadly, this lack of trust is the new normal.

Possible Preaching Angles: (1) God is the source of our help, hope, and trust. (2) Our need to pray for our government and to be salt and light in our community.