President Obama Talks Faith and Spirituality

Being President of the United States is no easy task. It makes even the most routine acts extremely difficult. A recent article on the Huffington Post describes the hurdles that must be crossed in order for the First Family to attend a normal Sunday service — and they do from time to time despite tedious preparation. Above all, it’s Obama’s commitment to God and faith that inspires us the most.

PHOTOS: Obama Watch

According to that same Huffington Post article, the President “is a committed Christian,” said Joshua DuBois, head of the White House’s Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, “and observing and depending his faith is important to him.” DuBois says he is responsible for putting together President Obama’s daily “devotionals” via email by 6 a.m. They often include passages of scripture or inspirational quotes from other leaders and figures.

For Obama, his faith means something larger than a daily email or occasional Sunday service. “My Christian faith … has been a sustaining force for me over these last few years, all the more so when Michelle and I hear our faith questioned from time to time. What really matters is not what other people say about us, but whether or not we’re being true to our conscience and true to our God,” he said at the 2011 National Prayer Breakfast.

PHOTOS: Michelle Obama Daily Diary

Obama’s faith hasn’t always been straight and narrow. He too has veered from the righteous path and boldly admits he’s done wrong in the past. “My faith journey has had its twists and turns. It hasn’t always been a straight line. …. In the wake of failures and disappointments I’ve questioned what God had in store for me and been reminded that Gods’ plans for us might not always match our own shortsighted desires.”