Lord, You are a Perfect and Just Judge;
Help me put my trust in You alone!
Focus of the Month: “You have heard it said…”
My breath stopped as I listened intently to the voice on the other end of the phone. Tears filled my eyes, my heart beat faster and I could feel my adrenalin kicking up a notch. How? How could someone be so cruel, so uncaring, so unbelievably wicked? This is personal. This is my family. It is not okay. I will not take this lying down. Justice must be swift and heavy was all I could think about—at first.
When our world, “our normal”, is shattered like a mirror falling from its decorated place on a wall how can we restore all those pieces? How do we make sense of the damage? The crumbled pieces now represent our broken trust, our hurt, and our disbelief, even our regrets. In the moment nothing seems real, nothing seems fair, nothing seems redeemable. I scream in silence. And just when I want to give up I open God’s Word and find my Hope, my answers, my comfort.
Jesus tells us in His message of the Sermon on the Mount:
“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.” (Matthew 5:43-45)
Love my enemy? Absurd. This isn’t fair at all. I struggle in my flesh to do this but because my heart and mind are set on Christ – I lift my head and I ask God to help me. Help me to forgive, help me to love, help me to see beyond my hurt and give me a heart to pray for my enemies.
While in this earthly world, we will face fiery trials, we will face adversity and we most definitely will face things that seem unfair. As believers we have someone to rest in, someone to put our complete trust in, and someone this world needs more than fairness, His name is Jesus Christ.
“Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people.” Proverbs 11:4
“The Lord approves of those who are good, but He condemns those who plan wickedness.” Proverbs 12: 2
Let us call upon the Holy Spirit dwelling within us for strength and wisdom. Let us face our trials with forgiveness, love and prayer. God is a perfect and just judge. We are no longer slaves to fear, doubt and revenge. We are daughters of the one true King. Justice will always be served and we will never have to do a thing.
Holding Fast to Hope,
Jen
Scripture References: Matthew 5:21-48; 1 Peter 4:12-13; Psalm 34:4; Psalm 50:6; Psalm 119:142; Psalm 99:4
