46 million people are on food stamps, 15 percent of Americans.
July saw the highest level of layoffs in 16 months, the steepest jump since the recession.
The president promises that the next few months will be about jobs. The reporters says it’s all about. . .
Jobs.
Jobs.
Jobs.
But talking about jobs doesn’t make them materialize.
People are still hungry.
I read Jeremiah 33:2-3. “‘This is what the Lord says, He who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it-—the Lord is His name: ‘Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'”
Life is messy.
But God is still on the throne.
He says to call to Him and He will answer and He will tell me great and unsearchable things that I do not know.
Who needs Google?
We cannot fathom what God has to tell us. I cannot even search for it, because I don’t even know what words to search for.
He made the earth. How can I doubt that He will take care of me?
Because you have seen people suffer, my heart whispers. Where was God then?
I struggle to reconcile why I see faithful servants of Christ still suffer. I see women with cancer who are abused by their husbands. I see men who can no longer provide for their families because of their illness, and their wives cheat on them. I see those with medical debt now living in campgrounds because they have lost their homes.
Where is the justice?
If the Lord loves justice (Psalm 11:7), then why does He seem to withhold justice (Job 34:5)?
The Psalmist says, “I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.” (Psalm 140:12) How does he know?
What are our options when all seems unfair?
To wait. Oh, how I hate waiting!
To believe that God is the source of justice.
“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore He will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!” (Isaiah 30:18)
Blessed are those who wait! So. . . I should not hate waiting. I should embrace it.
So I will wait. I will search for the ways I can see His hidden graciousness. I will expect His compassion, for He is love.
I will wait.
And in the wait, I will find His blessings.
And when I am saturated with His blessings, embraced by His compassion, I will be less concerned about justice.
Just give me Jesus.
Lisa Copen is the founder of Rest Ministries and she lives in San Diego with her husband and son. She is gradually learning how to balance motherhood, family, illness, and ministry, but she still knows it will be a lifetime lesson. You can see the books she has written, including, Why Can’t I Make People Understand? at the Rest Ministries shop.
I am one of those unfortunates on food stamps, which are getting me less and less all the time as grocery prices rise; I’ve had to flee from an abusive relationship even though I had ongoing medical issues at the time; and there have been countless other things since that seem completely unfair. The only thing that seems to work for me is to be honest with the Lord and tell Him that I am angry and I hate waiting, but that I trust Him enough to let Him do the work. Just venting a bit helps. The reply I usually get is something along the lines of, “I know, I know, dear one, but it will be all right in the end and I will be there for you through all of it.” There have been some unbelievably wonderful blessings that have been sent my way, too, and I always get gently reminded of those, and reassured that things won’t be any different this particular time.
Wonderful post. I am currently reading “A CRY FOR JUSTICE” by Shelley Hundley out of the International House of Prayer University (IHOPU:) in KC, MO. It is her testimony of how God redeemed her from a history of childhood rape and abuse as a child of missionary’s working and living in Columbia. How she then turned from God to atheism on the campus of a Christian college, but was ultimately delivered and healed by Jesus through Spirit filled, praying people who refused to let her go. It’s is one of the most healing books I’ve ever read as it clearly shows Jesus as not only Saviour & Reedemer, but loving Bridegroom & Judge who will bring JUSTICE for His beloved. I highly recommend to anyone seeking justice. Thanks for letting me share~Blessings to all
THIS IS JUST WHAT GOD SENT ME THRU YOU LISA! I needed this today Jan.5th 2012. Where is the justice! Going back to read it over and over. God bless you! Love, Kendra