“And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?” (Luke 18:7)

I read an article some months ago, “A woman who killed her teenage daughter by pouring acid on her face and body after they caught her talking to a boy has told the BBC it was the girl’s destiny to die in this way.... So-called 'honour' attacks are common in deeply conservative Pakistan.”

When we listen to the news, we hear of injustice that is painful and horrifying beyond any words. We hear of a young child being starved to death by his foster parents and siblings. We hear of gang rapes in Minneapolis and shame rapes in India. We hear about a school massacre of young children and bullying of teenagers resulting in suicide attempts. On and on, there is no lack of finding injustice if one opens their eyes. Small children are being starved to death, sold into slave labor, used in terrorism attacks/warfare, and sold or kidnapped into the sex industry every year.

Sometimes the injustice can feel so overwhelming that we harden our hearts towards it and try to shut it out. We don't know what to do about it so we ignore it and tell ourselves it is not our problem. We can feel overwhelmed and depressed. However in God, we always have hope. He hears our cry and we plead to him and “answers us with awesome deeds of righteousness” (Psalm 65:5).

We live in a fallen world and there is brokenness everywhere. Some people look at the injustice and blame God thinking, who is a God who would allow this to happen? Or worse yet, they think He orchestrates it in His wrath. However, God allowing free will choices does not mean God agrees with or blesses injustice.

God does not delight in injustice nor does He make light of it, overlook it or ignore it. When Cain killed Able, The LORD said in Gen. 4:10, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground.”

He especially hates injustice and oppression that performed by his people. Over and over in the Bible, He is appalled that His people are too frequently the oppressors and cause of injustice. He expects us, as His people, to be filled with His mercy and be the instrument through who justice flows to the people in need.

He tells the House of Israel through Amos when they were doing injustice and walking through the motions of worship that he had enough of their ways. He proclaimed, “But let justice flow like water, and righteousness, like an unfailing stream.” (Amos 5:24)

He says something similar in Isaiah 58. As His people were fasting and seeking Him, He told them, “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.”

And in Matthew 23:23 He tells the Pharisees, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”

Sometimes we can think the problem is too big and not know where to start. While we may not be able to move a mountain of injustices by our single actions, God sees our heart and desire. As we pray and move towards injustice by bringing God's mercy where we see it is needed, God meets us and empowers us.

We need to trust that we can make a difference when we put our hands to what our hearts prompt. All of us can show mercy to someone who is in jail by sending them a card or note. We can comfort someone in their loneliness by visiting those who are all alone in a retirement home. We can participate in our local food-shelf or gather a group of friends to pack meals to be sent worldwide.

Even more important, we can show mercy to our spouse and co-workers right around us. Ironically, sometimes it seems easier to show mercy to someone we do not know that someone we are with every day (at least for me at times). I can be compassionate and forgiving to the person with schizophrenia that swears at me and hangs up and then calls me back. But if my sister were to swear and hang up on me, I would hold a grudge. I can sometimes love a stranger at their worst more easier than the person who sits next to me.

Lord, help us to most of all be full of mercy and grace with those we love. Forgive me where I have not done this well and help me to change. Open our eyes to the injustice around us and give us great hope that you will meet us in that place. Help us to see where we can make a difference. Bless the work of our hands and make us fruitful for your kingdom.