Facing Injustice: God Is On My Side

Facing injustice and hatred is a universal experience. Everyone has an unfortunate encounter with one or both of these situations at some point in their life. 

It might be the spouse who openly mocks you for your faith or the boss who continually does what he can to sabotage your career. 

It could be watching as your disabled child is bullied and teased for being different. It might be dealing with the aftermath of rape or sexual assault and watching as your community rallies, not around you but your abuser, in a show of support.

These experiences can affect your faith in profound and damaging ways. They can leave you questioning what you believe, why you believe it, and if God cares about your suffering. 

You might feel angry at God, betrayed by Him, or even think He let you down. You’re not alone in your feelings, and it’s natural to experience them. But working through them in a healthy way is essential to finding healing and freedom.

Why Injustice Challenges Our Faith 

You are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). That means when you see injustice; it angers you. This is a righteous response. It’s normal to be angry and grieved when you see a news story about children being trafficked or when you hear about an innocent man being beaten openly on the streets while bystanders do nothing. 

But while you may experience a moment of empathy and deep sorrow for someone you see on the news, it’s different when that story hits closer to home. It’s not just another media segment when it was your daughter who was trafficked. It’s not a comment on the sad state of the world when it was your father who was the one attacked and beaten.

In the moments when injustice happens to someone you love or even to you, your faith can be shaken. You’re left with a million questions and often with persistent lies that can haunt you for decades afterward. There are four in particular that your enemy wants you to believe right now…

Lie #1: No One Is in Control

Imagine this: you’re on a flight to another continent. Halfway through the flight, the plane is over the ocean, and your seatmate begins to doubt the pilot. He can no longer see the land, so he’s certain the pilot doesn’t know what he’s doing. He starts to panic, grabs a parachute, opens the door, and jumps out of the plane.

It sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? 

Yet that’s precisely what we’re tempted to do in the face of injustice. You start thinking that maybe God isn’t in control. Perhaps He’s fallen asleep at the wheel or doesn’t care anymore. You doubt the pilot because you can only see the water.

But what you have to understand is that your Pilot has already filed a flight plan. He’s already charted the path and accounted for that ocean of injustice you’re flying over right now. He hasn’t changed. He is still in control of the flight.

In Psalm 103, David wrote, 

After a season of humbling by the Lord, King Nebuchadnezzar proclaimed,

God is still ruling from Heaven even when it seems like injustice is winning. He hasn’t fallen asleep in the cockpit, and He isn’t closing His eyes and taking it easy while your life seemingly spins out of control.

The psalmist in Psalm 121 wrote these encouraging words to those who struggle with where God is right now. 

Lie #2: Nothing Is Fair

Whether you want to admit it or not, most of us believe that the world should be fair. When it’s not fair, your illusion of control is shattered. Suddenly, it feels like nothing makes a difference. All the time and effort you’ve spent trying to live in a certain way doesn’t count for anything. Left unchecked, this lie can take root in your heart and lead to anger and bitterness.

But in Matthew 5, Jesus says, 

Both the righteous and the wicked will experience sunny days and rain. This isn’t just a reference to the weather but to the emotional and spiritual journey we’re on as well. 

Regardless of how you’re living your life, you can expect to experience injustice, pain, and sorrow during your time on earth. You will not be spared this difficult reality simply because you are a child of God.

Lie #3: There’s No Point

Watching while those who are wicked prosper is a tricky thing. Maybe your boss regularly taunts his employees but continues to get promotion after promotion. Perhaps your child continues to be bullied at school despite your persistent prayers.

When we encounter these situations, it can be tempting to believe that there’s no point in living a holy life. This is one of Satan’s favorite lies to tell you because it often leads to a spirit of rebellion. 

But you aren’t alone in this struggle. Asaph echoed these very thoughts in Psalm 73,

The entire Psalm is filled with despair as Asaph stares at the wicked. However, by the end of the chapter, he’s proclaiming a new truth,

In the middle of an evil generation, Asaph was getting discouraged and overwhelmed. But then he makes a new decision—to focus on God. 

He starts by thinking of God’s constant presence (it’s good to be near God!). Then he declares that God is His refuge (he’s no longer looking at the wicked but at God). Finally, he decides to speak out about the good God is doing already (I will tell of all your deeds).

He shifts from angry and bitter to calm and peaceful in three steps. This kind of radical re-route is possible only by choosing a new focus.

Lie #4: There Is No Hope

You have a very real enemy working overtime to convince you not to bother to show up for the battle. He says, “You have no hope in this situation. Things will never get better. You’ve always struggled like this, and you’ll continue to for the rest of your life.”

More than anything, Satan wants you so discouraged and so assured of defeat that you don’t even bother to pick up a sword. He wants to take the victory from you before you even step foot on the battlefield.

The reason he does this is simple: he’s already lost (John 16:33). He can’t change that, but he can do his best to convince you otherwise. That’s why Satan wants you to focus on the injustice and the evil around you. He wants your heart so broken, weary, and discouraged that you never engage in the battle.

What do you do in these moments? Do you give in to the despair? Are you willing to let this lie have victory over you? Do you choose to go down without a fight? Or is there another alternative?

Take a cue from the Psalmist. He boldly declared, 

Did you pay attention to the verse above? Just like Asaph, the writer of Psalm 121 shifted his focus. He stopped looking at his troubles and began looking at his God. That’s hard to do in the middle of the battle. But it’s absolutely essential if you hope to be victorious over injustice.

What To Do When Facing Injustice

Now that you recognize the lies that Satan is shouting over you in the middle of the injustice, you might be wondering what to do next. You know to shift your focus, but you feel powerless in this situation to do anything else. Here’s what to start with…

Step #1: Pray

Oh, it sounds so simple. But when the bottom is falling out of your world, and you’re quaking with anger, when you’re watching the wicked prosper or your loved one suffer, when you’re doing without while the wicked eat well, when you feel lonely while another woman goes to bed with your spouse, it’s hard to find anything to say to God. 

You don't have to. 

Take a page from the book of countless beggars in the New Testament. Cry out His name. Again and again and again. Like a small child. So often, the beggars in these scenes are shown yelling two words, “Have mercy.”

Why? Because God always does. No words touch His heart quite like the broken sobs of his hurting child. He pauses to hear and to heal. He draws close to you, pulling you into the warmth of His holy cloak and whispering, “Shh…I’m here.”

Step #2: Carry On

When you can’t change your situation, all you can do is carry on. Joseph did the best he could after being sold into slavery to honor his master. It wasn’t about loyalty to Potiphar.

It was about knowing who he belonged to and honoring God with his efforts. Maybe you're dealing with an alcoholic spouse who mocks your faith daily; carry on. Perhaps you’re standing alone against a community rallied around an abuser; carry on. 

Carry on not because you have to but because God can (and will) sustain you. Let Him be your strength. Let Him carry you through. 

In Psalm 68, David proclaimed,

Jesus reassured you that not only are you held securely in the Father’s hand, but that He never lets go of you, for no one can remove you from His loving touch. 

Step #3: Remember

The greatest injustice of all time was the death of Jesus Christ. The perfect, spotless Lamb of God was brutally murdered (John 1:29). 

The Light of the world was extinguished (Matthew 27:45). The Holy One was cast away from the perfect Father (Matthew 27:46).

In Galatians 1, Paul writes,

This means that the greatest injustice in history was used for God’s glory and your good. Think about that for a moment. The greatest injustice that could ever happen happened. 

And it happened for your good. It happened on your behalf. 

It was redeemed so you could be set free.

Injustice was used...for your good.

But injustice never feels good.

It can leave us weeping in our own Garden of Gethsemane, whispering the same prayer as our beloved Savior, 

Step #4: Trust

Five letters often thrown around callously by those who mean well but haven’t experienced a soul-crushing trial. Five letters that can leave an already bleeding heart so very raw.

Joseph proclaimed to his brothers, 

But here’s a little fact so many well-meaning people miss: Joseph could only say that after his trial was over. He couldn’t see anything good in the moment. 

But to arrive at the place God had called him to, he had to trust there was a plan unfolding that he could not see. 

The truth is you will only have perspective once you’re past this current pain. You can’t see anything right now, and that’s completely normal. The important thing is that once again, you trust the Pilot.

Step #5: Seek Support

If possible, seek the support of godly friends that will strengthen and surround you. That will hold you up on the days it feels like you’re falling apart. Moses had Aaron and Hur. In the middle of the battle, Moses had to keep his hands lifted. It was the only way his nation would win (Exodus 17:11).

But he grew weary in the battle, and that’s where his support people came in. They guided him to sit on a rock and held him up. The battle still raged, but for now, his friends were rallying around him.

Ask God to send you an Aaron and Hur, sweet friends that can walk with you during this trial. They may not have all the answers, but they can strengthen you as you wait to see God’s victory unfold.

God Is On My Side in Injustice

In Psalm 56, David proclaimed,

David didn’t pen these words while living in the lap of luxury, surrounded by an army of men that were loyal to him. He uttered this prayer when the Philistines had captured him in Gath. If there were ever a moment for panic, this was it.

But David summoned his strength and boldly proclaimed, “God is on my side!”

No matter your battle—no matter how severe the injustice or how long the fight—you can rest on this truth today, soldier: God is fighting with you and for you. He hasn’t left you alone in this war, and what’s more, victory is assured. 

Before He left the disciples to return to His heavenly home, Jesus gave them these parting words,

Hold tight to these words, precious one. You are already victorious!

Grace and peace,

Alicia