I can't be the only person who struggles with this, right? Ever since I was a kid, I could not stand any sort of injustice. I was VERY black and white, good/bad, yes/no. That is all part of growing up, and I have learned a lot about life since then- but I still struggle with accepting and understanding things that aren't fair. Especially when terrible things happend to innocent people, and especially, kids. I literally have physical reactions of stress when I experience people's pain as they deal with something unfair or hurtful. So, of course, God led me to a place where injustice is all around me! I mean it is everywhere on earth, but I am face-to-face with it each day here.
Because of all my thoughts and questions, Steven and I have been doing a personal bible study of justice. Really, it is the basic question of why do bad things happen to good/innocent people. People, pastors, and authors give all kinds of answers to this, and I always think, "yeah ok but I still don't like it." I have never "found" and answer I am satisfied with- and really, none of us ever will, right? I am never going to like injustice.
BUT... (phew! that was seeming kind of hopeless for a moment.) I have decided that I will never understand all of God's infinite wisdom and why things do or don't happen. (Not really a new or profound thought, but I have to rediscover it from time to time.) So, for a while, I am suspending the "why?" I have to decide if my faith in the almighty, loving, and grace-filled God of the universe is strong enough to believe that His love and justice will always prevail. And I do.
I believe it so much that I am trying to understand, at least, my role in it all. What does God say about justice? How does he deliver it to His people? These are all big questions and I am just a little person, so rather than philosophizing about it all, I usually try to understand how it relates to me and the people in my life. Several verses that have been catching my attention are like this one:
"When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 22:23
Really, this is about our role in delivering justice on earth. If we love God with our hearts, then we serve him through our life. Two things about this verse caught my attention. God asks us to share what we have. Not to earn more first and then share. Just share what we were given in the first place. Somehow, this easy thing is always hard and we put conditions on it, "when I have more time/money/resources I will give more time/money/resources." The second thing I liked was when it says to help the poor residing among you. Meaning, we are very near people who need help. Meaning we should be helping and loving them. Meaning, that justice does not always just happen, we are called to be a part of delivering God's justice. We are called to be IN justice.
So- I will end these thoughts with a happy picture that describes my heart for doing justice
Because of all my thoughts and questions, Steven and I have been doing a personal bible study of justice. Really, it is the basic question of why do bad things happen to good/innocent people. People, pastors, and authors give all kinds of answers to this, and I always think, "yeah ok but I still don't like it." I have never "found" and answer I am satisfied with- and really, none of us ever will, right? I am never going to like injustice.
BUT... (phew! that was seeming kind of hopeless for a moment.) I have decided that I will never understand all of God's infinite wisdom and why things do or don't happen. (Not really a new or profound thought, but I have to rediscover it from time to time.) So, for a while, I am suspending the "why?" I have to decide if my faith in the almighty, loving, and grace-filled God of the universe is strong enough to believe that His love and justice will always prevail. And I do.
I believe it so much that I am trying to understand, at least, my role in it all. What does God say about justice? How does he deliver it to His people? These are all big questions and I am just a little person, so rather than philosophizing about it all, I usually try to understand how it relates to me and the people in my life. Several verses that have been catching my attention are like this one:
"When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 22:23
Really, this is about our role in delivering justice on earth. If we love God with our hearts, then we serve him through our life. Two things about this verse caught my attention. God asks us to share what we have. Not to earn more first and then share. Just share what we were given in the first place. Somehow, this easy thing is always hard and we put conditions on it, "when I have more time/money/resources I will give more time/money/resources." The second thing I liked was when it says to help the poor residing among you. Meaning, we are very near people who need help. Meaning we should be helping and loving them. Meaning, that justice does not always just happen, we are called to be a part of delivering God's justice. We are called to be IN justice.
So- I will end these thoughts with a happy picture that describes my heart for doing justice
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| two smiles, a fish kiss and a winky face. good times :) |
