By Russ Ramsey
If you are reading these words, it means you spend at least some of your time online. And if you are anything like me, the immediacy and gravity of our access to what’s happening in the world can be dizzying and heartbreaking.
Just today, as I’m writing this, I see in the news that one country bombed another, and then other countries took sides, and leaders puffed out their chests promising swift resolve. Yesterday, I learned that two African American men were arrested for sitting in a Starbucks without making a purchase. They were waiting on a third person to have a business meeting in that “third space.” The day before that, I read about a cancer diagnosis, a pastor falling from grace, and a lawsuit between a politician and an adult film star.
We live in a unique time in history, where information is free, global, and immediate. But how much tragedy and brokenness can a person absorb before he either breaks or goes numb? Were we designed to know as much as we do about what is happening all over the world? I know I often reach a point where my own heart feels the burdens of this world in a way that becomes a simple prayer: “Lord, come back soon.”
In today’s psalm, David prays from a posture of being overwhelmed by what is happening in the world around him and how it is taking command of what is happening inside him. He is tired. The world is filled with injustice. The wicked seem to prosper. His own friends are betraying him. What is his prayer? Not to oversimplify, but if I were to boil it down, this prayer would be something on the order of, “Lord, make it stop.”
The hope of the gospel is that one day, all sickness, sorrow, injustice, war, famine, racial tension, infidelity, greed, betrayal, and political corruption will end. But until it does, until Jesus returns, He reminds us that in this life there will always be poverty and trouble (Mark 14:7, John 16:33).
So what do we do while we wait for the end of all injustice and poverty? We make it part of the cry of the soul. Praying for justice to prevail over evil, as David models for us, is an important part of actually doing something with our lives to push back against the darkness. This discipline in prayer lifts our gaze from ourselves and makes us look beyond ourselves to the world we inhabit. It draws from us a new prayer: “Lord, work through me.”
Lord, come back soon. Lord, make it stop. Lord, work through me. Amen.
6 thoughts on "A Prayer for God’s Justice"
-
Mike G says:
I wonder if it is not time for all christians to join together to fight the injustice of the current Democratic administration. I see evil in the FBI raiding the home of a lay pastor who demonstrates peacefully against abortion. It bothers me that his large home schooled family suffered a guns blazing raid. All the children were there watching the dad be carted off in handcuffs.
I wonder why more of the God fearing remenant of the old testament did not rally. You see the people repent and seek the lord when their king did the same. Yet the next king may lead the people to idol worship.
I think we need to come together in community to speak out against the injustice around us. Jesus did the same with the ruling elite. Those circumstances lead to the cross, God’s perfect plan for redemption. Thank God for his Son and forgiveness of sin.
I think it is time we let others know why we are speaking out. We are speaking out in Jesus name against injustice. -
Stephen says:
Well said Mike.
-
Carleton says:
Amen Mike. Part of the problem is that not enough Christians are speaking out. We are allowing evil to rule in our land and we say little or nothing about it. Those who do speak up are quickly silenced and intimidated. We, as followers of Christ, must stand for justice, must stand for Christ, and we must be willing to speak out about the evil and injustice in our land, in our world.
-
Jrayit says:
Amen Mike. “All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.”
-
Austin says:
Can you clarify the tyranny you mentioned more?
-
-
Noah Kelly says:
Amen Mike🙏
Post Comments (6)