Our God is gentle and compassionate. He is also a God of justice – he will not let hateful and harmful acts go unpunished.
God’s judgment is something we don’t like to talk about or even think about. I guess the “hell, fire and brimstone” sermons of times past might have gone a bit overboard!
But over the years I’ve come to find comfort in this aspect of God’s character, because it means that God cares enough to make things right again.
For those of you who are still suffering the effects of grief and pain caused by unjust treatment, I pray you that you’ll feel God’s comfort today. The harm that’s been done to you is not right. God will bring perpetrators of violence and abuse to justice (unless they turn completely from their ways and beg for forgiveness – and then he promises to show mercy).
Take comfort in the fact that God sees, God knows, and God is there to be your Good Shepherd as you walk the long path towards healing.
Why did God allow the harm to happen in the first place? Why didn’t he intervene sooner? I don’t know. These will be questions that I ask him when I get to heaven! But maybe by then I’ll be so captivated by his presence that I won’t even think to ask these questions!
We might never know the answers to some of the big questions. But we do know this: God is PASSIONATE about justice and he is COMPASSIONATE towards those who take refuge in him.
Jesus experienced unjust treatment: he was betrayed by a very close friend, falsely accused and condemned in court, and he endured physical violence and the death penalty even though he’d done no wrong. Take comfort in him: He knows. He understands. He is there when no-one else is there. In the dark moments of isolation and despair.
“He will not crush the weakest reed and he will not put out a flickering flame.” You are safe with him because he is gentle and kind.
With Jesus we will always be safe.
