When An Injustice Hits You Like A Brick

“Be still before the Lord; wait patiently for Him and entrust yourself to Him;
Do not fret (whine, agonize) because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and abandon wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evil.” Psalms 37:7-8

How does one handle an injustice that strikes deep, leaving you feeling belittled, scorned, and defeated? As if you were nothing more than a footstool under the enemy’s feet, while others revel in their victory. Suddenly, both old and new thoughts began to surge forth, like vivid memories we believed we had forgiven, or perhaps set aside, because we thought they didn’t affect us. These thoughts begin to crash into our minds and tug at our hearts like a relentless tidal wave hitting the sand. Its ultimate purpose is to drown us, overpower us, instill pain, and make it incredibly hard to move forward.

How do we relinquish the anger, the knot in our stomach, and the resentment we experience, and instead seek HELP from God?  During times of injustice, verses like Psalms 37:7-8 may not be what we desire to hear at that moment, yet they are precisely what we need.  Why is that?  It all comes down to how we approach scripture. Are we being force-fed, or are we savoring it one bite at a time? This allows the Word of God to become the help we are asking for! These steps encourage us to remain still, to wait with patience, to trust in Him, not to fret, and to discover His peace through forgiveness.

Step #1: For many of us, finding stillness doesn’t come naturally. However, when confronted with an injustice, it is vital to take a seat, take a deep breath, and pause for a brief moment. Embracing stillness grants us the time to reflect and process what has transpired. This may sometimes involve crying, shouting, and so forth, but choosing to remain in this space until you discover peace and stillness within your soul!

Step #2: When we finally calm down, our hearts are open to receiving, listening, and praying.  While we pray, we patiently await Him to speak to us and bring healing to our hearts, minds, and emotions. At this moment, I would ask the Lord, “Heal me! Remove this anger and sense of injustice from my heart. I don’t wish to bear this burden, yet I find it hard to let it go! Help me!” This process enables us to trust in God’s timing, shields our hearts, minds, and emotions from anxiety, frustration, and bitterness as we begin to let go of our grievances. ( John 14:27) After this, I would encourage you to begin praising and worshiping the Lord, as He begins to heal us inside out.

Step #3: Trusting in God enables us to let go of control over our lives and fully entrust our hearts, future, and well-being into God’s loving hands. This empowers us to release our grip on the injustice we feel by relinquishing control of how justice should be served. (Rom. 12:19)

Step #4: Each day, we must intentionally choose to renew our minds to avoid fretting about the injustices we have already entrusted to Christ.(Rom. 12:2)  Letting go helps us avoid fixating on it, stressing over it, and talking about it. The enemy will attempt to keep it at the forefront of our minds, but we must decide to look beyond those thoughts, view the person as Christ does, pray for those involved, and speak blessings over their lives. This habit keeps us liberated! (Philip 4:6-7)

Step #5: Having gone through all these steps, His peace enables us to embark on the journey of embracing forgiveness. Forgiveness is a journey we undertake as “We Go”. It is not the conclusion of our path, but rather the beginning. It unfolds in layers and requires time, yet we must consciously decide to walk in forgiveness. When fresh layers of a situation resurface, we face a choice: to remain free or to pick it up once more.

 Having gone through this myself just a week ago, I can confirm that although it is difficult, it can also be a path to healing if we permit ourselves the necessary time to recover. Forgiveness of an injustice is a journey, so be kind to yourself when it becomes tough at times.

Remember, there is Power in the Words of God that shatters the injustice that we once thought broke us! (Heb. 4:12)