Finding God’s Justice in Unjust Situations

I’d yet to meet this woman, whom I was to work with that summer, sitting across the room from me. I could feel her anger toward me. I knew I wasn’t imagining it.

A few days later, a co-worker came to me privately about the tension between this woman and me. I couldn’t deny it and was admittedly at a loss as to how to correct it. It was draining me too.

Steaming with righteous indignation, I wanted to march into that office and quit. It was unfair. I was miserable. Instead, I went for a long walk and cried out to God. I was angry at the thought of apologizing for something that wasn’t my fault. That night, God dealt with the hurts from my past. In the morning I had peace and direction. I knew that God was in control.

The office was empty except for us. I apologized for offending her and offered to quit. Her guard now down, she opened up. Though we didn’t become friends, we did come to a workable truce. I finished my summer and left on good terms. It was a lesson well learned.

Psalm 7 starts out as a complaint but ends with amazing praise. I love it! There is one powerful Selah at the end of verse 5.

O LORD my God, if I have done this if my hands are stained with injustice, if I have paid back my friend with evil or rescued someone who has no reason to attack me then let the enemy chase me and catch me. Let him trample my life into the ground. Let him lay my honor in the dust. Selah
Psalm 7:3-5

Selah. Stop. Pause. Listen.

David is talking with God about a difficult interpersonal relationship. Cush hated him simply because he wasn’t a Benjamite. Sound familiar? Feeling unjustly attacked, David told God exactly how he felt. He also owned his part in this relationship. Still, David felt he hadn’t done to Cush what Cush was doing to him. He just wanted justice.

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After his pause in verse 5, David’s perspective starts to change. By the end of the psalm, David declares God a fair judge, ready for Him to judge his motives as well. He moves from complaining to listening and closes with praise.

I will give thanks to the Lord for his righteousness. I will make music to praise the name of the LORD Most High.
Psalm 7:17

Selah. Stop. Pause. Listen.

You have an attacker. Maybe it’s a coworker. Maybe it’s family or friends. It seems impossible to make the situation better. In fact, saying or doing anything makes it worse. Tell God. Be honest. Cry out the injustice, the unfairness, and the misunderstandings. Admit your part, too, and ask for God’s wisdom. Then, Selah. Stop and listen to what the Holy Spirit speaks to your heart.

What can we say about all of this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:31

God’s Word Mission Society welcomes Wendy Miller Bartsch, a GOD’S WORD Ambassador. As a young adult, Wendy moved to Northern Canada as a missionary. During those years, numerous moves and life challenges deepened her faith and trust in God. Being creative at heart and wanting a way to express what God was teaching her, she started writing devotionals for family and friends and posting them on Facebook. With much encouragement, her first book Selah was published in August 2022.