You Can Call Him: Mr. Mayor

On June 16, 2026, Isaiah Hugley was elected the 71st mayor of Columbus, Georgia, making history in the process. Years from now, historians will likely focus on the outcome—the election victory, the milestone, and the significance of the moment. But the greater story lies in the journey. It is a story of faith, perseverance, and quiet resilience. It is a reminder that setbacks do not have the final word and that disappointment does not have to determine destiny. Above all, it is a powerful testament to what can happen when a person refuses to surrender to adversity, remains steadfast in purpose, and trusts that their season of vindication will eventually come.

Just a little more than a year ago, May 27, 2025, Isaiah Hugley experienced what many would consider one of the most painful moments of his professional life. After serving as Columbus city manager for nearly two decades, the City Council voted to terminate him seven months before his planned retirement.

Think about that. Twenty years of service. Twenty years of sacrifice. Twenty years of showing up every day to serve the people of Columbus. Then suddenly, it ends. Publicly. Painfully. Humiliatingly.

For many people, that moment would have become their final chapter. For some, bitterness would have taken root. For others, anger would have become their companion. But sometimes God has a different plan. Sometimes what feels like rejection is actually redirection. Sometimes what appears to be a setback is really a setup. Sometimes God allows a door to close because He is preparing a bigger one to open.

The Bible reminds us in Isaiah 55:8, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." What we call a loss, God may call preparation. What we call a disappointment; God may call positioning. What we call the end, God may call the beginning.

I never heard Isaiah Hugley launch public attacks against those who voted to remove him. I never saw him consumed by revenge. I never saw him spend his days trying to settle scores. Instead, he did something that requires far more strength. He waited. He trusted. He endured. And perhaps most importantly, he allowed God to fight a battle that many would have tried to fight themselves.

The scripture says, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." Too often we want immediate justice. We want immediate answers. We want immediate vindication. But God operates on a different timetable. His timing may not be our timing, but His timing is always perfect.

Today, the same man who was escorted from a position of leadership will soon return to that same chamber as the elected leader of the city. The same room that witnessed his dismissal will witness his inauguration. The same council chambers that represented disappointment will now represent destiny fulfilled. The same place where he once sat as city manager will now welcome him as mayor.

If that doesn't remind you that God is still working behind the scenes, I don't know what will. This story is bigger than politics. It's bigger than elections. It's bigger than personalities. It's about every person who has ever been overlooked, rejected, fired, criticized, or counted out. It's about every person who has ever wondered whether their best days were behind them. It's about every person who has ever walked away from a painful situation believing they had been defeated.

The lesson is simple: Don't quit. Don't become bitter. Don't lose faith. Don't spend your energy trying to get even. Keep your character. Keep your dignity. Keep trusting God. Because the same God who closes doors can open new ones. The same God who allows a setback can create a comeback. The same God who permits a season of humiliation can prepare a season of elevation.

You may be down today, but that doesn't mean you're out. You may be hurting today, but that doesn't mean God has forgotten you. You may be walking through a valley today, but valleys are not permanent addresses. They are places we pass through.

The next chapter of your story may be one you cannot yet see. The Bible declares in Psalm 110:1, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool." That means we should trust God enough to know that He is fully capable of handling those who oppose us. So, when life disappoints you, keep walking. When people count you out, keep believing. When doors close, keep trusting. Because if God has written a purpose over your life, no vote, no critic, no setback, and no obstacle can cancel what He has ordained. And every now and then, God will bring you back to the very place where you were wounded—not to reopen the wound, but to reveal the victory.

From city manager to mayor. From setback to comeback. From rejection to redemption. Now that's a sermon all by itself.

Ain't God good?