We look around us at the violence raging in the world and ask God why? Why have you not rained down your judgement upon all these evil people? For you are the Almighty, Sovereign God; then, why would you allow so much evil among your own people to occur: the hypocrisy, lies, and immorality? Furthermore God, why do you allow your people to suffer underneath the oppression of evil around the globe? People suffering from earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, cancer, chronic illness, addictions, and personal crisis. Every day we, see the effects of sin upon the lives of all: those who stand upon your gospel gift of grace and those who do not. Then where is the answer we seek? Why God, does such injustice and violence reign upon this planet called earth? When will you come down?
We ask so many questions and there are those moments our faith trembles within. How often have I even narrowed those questions to just my life? Those moments when my own faith trembles or I am pleading, seeking God’s will while my feet still stumble or my words speak despair into the lives of others instead of light and hope. How does one find hope, joy, love and strength in such a world?
Ah, yes; my hope rests in God’s immutable, unchanging face of love and His Mighty Sovereign Hand of Perfect Righteousness and Justice! No matter how dark the road may appear and regardless of how devastating the storm; God IS the great I am and He is working all things together for my good and for the good of all who place their faith in Him. This I have learned over a lifetime-the foundation upon which I stand, arising each morning with steadfast joy.
INJUSTICE AND VIOLENCE REIGN
The nation of Israel had a wonderful time of revival and restoration during the reign of Josiah from about 640-609 BC. A great leader, having restored the law and order as well as the true worship of God. Then after his death, the kings to follow were evil. They turned from God to seek their own destinies and lead the people into idolatry once more. The few who remained faithful to God were ostracized for their faith. No one listened or headed the warnings of the faithful, their voices silenced by the crowd. They warned the people that judgement must come if they continued down this destructive road, refusing to turn their worship back to God.
When we look across this great nation of ours, do we not see the same? We see evil and hatred in our streets from the White Supremacy to the Anti-FA groups. From main stream media to the streets of Hollywood, hate spews forth against the Christians. Then there are groups such as Black Lives Matter which further divide rather than heal; because of their own racist, hate filled rhetoric. My heart loves with no regard for color, race, gender, sexual orientation or background; yet, in some cases, hate rejects to receive such love on basis of my being a white Christian female. Furthermore, when we look around the world, do we not tremble with fear at all the evil surrounding? There are the Isis terrorists, the North Korean regime, and so many evil plans and plots for war. We see the Christians who are martyred around the world.
WHERE IS HOPE WHEN INJUSTICE AND VIOLENCE REIGN?
We can trust an Almighty Sovereign God who never changes! Let me walk you through the pages of history. We will step back in time and look at three small books in the Old Testament over the course of the next few weeks. They are Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah.
All three of these prophets lived during the time surrounding Josiah’s reign with some very specific prophecies. Nahum, the “comforter” told of the fall of Nineveh in Assyria; that God’s people might be freed from such tyrannical rule: portraying God’s justice in the world and His mighty power to protect those who know Him. Habakkuk was filled with questions as He foretold of the Babylon’s rising power to overthrow and take captive the people of Judea. Yet, God would then restore His people; when, the mighty Babylonian kingdom would fall. Zephaniah wrote of God’s love amid the storms of life. They each present a part of God’s character from His justice to His righteousness and His Love through it all. Let us begin with Habakkuk first, as he was the prophet who questioned God the most with the question, “Why?”
CONCLUSION:
Faith grows as we learn to see God in all the aspects of His Glory equally as I pointed out in the previous post titled, God’s Glory Revealed in Justice and Mercy.
Please stay with me through this series as I lay out the argument for Faith amid life’s Turmoil. During a previous series and a soon to be released book on Abiding, Steadfast Joy; I told you about the three foundations of truth upon which we can anchor our faith. Now I want us to look once more during this new series on God, Himself: His Just nature, His righteousness, His Love and His Mercy toward the faithful.
If you missed the previous series, it began with Trusting God When You Don’t Understand. How? And ended with How to Write God’s Truth on My Heart?
Until next time, remember this.
HEBREWS 6: 17-20 (TLB)
17 God also bound himself with an oath, so that those he promised to help would be perfectly sure and never need to wonder whether he might change his plans.
18 He has given us both his promise and his oath, two things we can completely count on, for it is impossible for God to tell a lie. Now all those who flee to him to save them can take new courage when they hear such assurances from God; now they can know without doubt that he will give them the salvation he has promised them.
19 This certain hope of being saved is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls, connecting us with God himself behind the sacred curtains of heaven, 20 where Christ has gone ahead to plead for us from his position as our High Priest,
concluding tweets:
[tweetthis]When Injustice Surrounds us, Our peace is knowing God is Just[/tweetthis]
[tweetthis]When Sorrow fills our heart, we find hope in knowing God Is our Joy[/tweetthis]
[tweetthis]When violence bids our heart to fear, we can trust God to anchor our soul[/tweetthis]
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. Because there is nothing more important than this, I urge you to seek Him today.
OR ARE YOU IN OF NEED PRAYER?
If you have a prayer request email me by clicking here or comment here
OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE
If you want to know more about books I have written: You can read more about each one at: Book Resources.
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Living Bible (TLB)
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The inscription I added; however, the Photo by Bryan Minear on Unsplash