Providence in the Founding: Miracles of the Revolutionary War and the Prayers of George Washington
- Ethan Justice
- Jul 3
- 3 min read
The story of America’s founding is not just one of strategy, bravery, and resistance to tyranny—it is a story marked by divine providence. As we reflect on the Revolutionary War, we must recognize that the survival and success of the Continental Army were, in many ways, nothing short of miraculous. From unexplainable weather phenomena to the improbable victories of undertrained militias against the greatest military power in the world, our War for Independence bore the fingerprints of something greater than man alone. And at the center of it all stood George Washington—a man of action and a man of prayer.
Miracles on the Battlefield
The Escape from Brooklyn (1776)After the disastrous Battle of Long Island, the Continental Army faced complete annihilation. Trapped by British forces and with the East River at their backs, defeat seemed certain. Yet, on the night of August 29, a thick fog rolled in—so dense that even at close range, visibility was nearly zero. Under the cover of this inexplicable fog, Washington silently evacuated 9,000 troops across the river. The British awoke to an empty battlefield. No one can explain the fog’s timing or intensity, but its impact was undeniable. Providence, it seemed, had intervened.
The Frozen Delaware (1776)Later that year, Washington launched his daring Christmas night crossing of the Delaware River to surprise the Hessians in Trenton. What followed was a crucial American victory. Had the weather shifted just slightly, the operation could have failed catastrophically. Instead, ice cleared enough for a successful crossing. That improbable triumph revitalized the revolutionary cause.
Yorktown’s Surrender (1781)The culminating victory at Yorktown was sealed by an unexpected event: the arrival of the French fleet, combined with the perfect positioning of American forces, trapped the British army. Storms had delayed British reinforcements just long enough to give the allied American-French force the upper hand. Again, timing played a role too perfect to ignore.
Washington: A Man of Prayer and Principle
George Washington was not merely a military tactician or political leader—he was a man of profound faith. He saw the hand of God in the Revolution and understood that liberty required not just blood and toil, but divine guidance.
Accounts from his contemporaries describe him kneeling in prayer in the snow of Valley Forge. Isaac Potts, a Quaker who witnessed Washington in prayer, later recounted the moment with reverence, saying, “I saw a man on his knees, praying most fervently in the snow... such a prayer I never heard from the lips of man.”
Washington’s circular letter to the governors of the states in 1783, after the war, reveals his moral foundation. He wrote:
"I now make it my earnest prayer that God would have you, and the State over which you preside, in His holy protection; that He would incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government... and finally, that He would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion."
These are not the words of a man who saw America as a secular project. Washington believed our Republic could not survive without moral and religious virtue.
Providence and Patriotism
The American Revolution was a crucible in which liberty was forged—not just by human courage, but by divine intervention. The miracles that steered the Continental Army to victory were not accidents of nature; they were signs of providence. And at every step, our leaders prayed not just for triumph, but for righteousness, wisdom, and unity.
Today, as the 917 Society distributes pocket Constitutions to America’s youth, we carry forward the spirit of those who believed that liberty was a gift from God, not from government. We educate, we inspire, and we pray—just as Washington did—that America remains a beacon of freedom guided by moral conviction.
In remembering the miracles of the Revolution and the prayers of our first Commander-in-Chief, let us renew our commitment to teaching the truth of our founding. The blessings of liberty are not guaranteed—they must be understood, cherished, and defended.
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