Perseverance In The Face of An Unfair World
Psalm 37: 7-9 Be still in the presence of the L ord , and wait patiently for him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper--it only leads to harm. For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the L ord will possess the land. (NLT)
I wish I had an answer for everything. I wish I had an answer for the pain and suffering of so many people around the world. An answer for the faithful hiding underground; believing in Christ even if it means their lives. An answer for terminal illness and disability. An answer for war and poverty. An answer for the seemingly blinding hate that exists in this world. While I may not have the answers to everything that may seem unjust and unfair in this world; I know who does. And that is the very essence of our faith:
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)
I have faith that while I cannot see the reasons for the inequity in life I am assured that God is still in control. I have confidence that what I hope for will actually happen, either in life on this earth or in the life to come in the house of the Lord. God is always faithful, even in the face of our own unfaithfulness:
If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is. 2Timothy 2: 13 (NLT)
David understood the faithfulness of God. Psalm 37 finds David lamenting the unfairness of life and contrasting the wicked and the just. It puts a very human face on David, as he sees the inequity in his situation as we all do today in ours. The key verses above from Psalm 37 seem to speak to those who may find themselves in what may seem to be overwhelmingly unfair situations in life and what God would say to you about it.
First of all, the Psalmist says that you must be still in the presence of the Lord and wait patiently for Him to act. God doesn't need our help. He is God. What He expects from us is to be obedient and faithful. Even within the storm. Even within the unfair situations. Remember, Jesus Himself warned us about this life:
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." John 16: 33 (NLT)
