Throughout history people have treated others unjustly. What should you do when you are treated unjustly?
I have been involved with a ministry that ministers to orphaned children in Central America for many years. Unfortunately, many of the children were abused prior to living at this Christian orphanage. The good news is many were able to receive inner healing as the Lord worked in them. If you are struggling today because of treatment you received in the past, the Lord wants to bring healing to your life. Psalm 86:15But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. [1]
Many Israelites were Exploited During a Food Shortage
The Israelites were in the process of rebuilding the walls in Jerusalem when a food shortage led to people being treated unjustly. How would God change their situation?
Nehemiah 5:1 About this time some of the men and their wives raised a cry of protest against their fellow Jews. 2 They were saying, “We have such large families. We need more food to survive.” 3 Others said, “We have mortgaged our fields, vineyards, and homes to get food during the famine.” 4 And others said, “We have had to borrow money on our fields and vineyards to pay our taxes. 5 We belong to the same family as those who are wealthy, and our children are just like theirs. Yet we must sell our children into slavery just to get enough money to live. We have already sold some of our daughters, and we are helpless to do anything about it, for our fields and vineyards are already mortgaged to others.” [2]
The Lord heard the cries of the people and gave Nehemiah courage to stand up against those taking advantage of others which ended this exploitation.
God Sees Our Troubles
The Lord sees our suffering and hears our complaints when we are unjustly treated. David gives us insight about God as we suffer. Psalm 56:8 You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. [3]
This reassures us that God knows our suffering. When we are hurting, we want God to be aware of us. Of course, we desire the Lord to help us and bring healing when necessary. Like small children we need to know God is still there and He cares.
The good news is God does pay attention to our sorrows and every tear or pain matters to Him. Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. [4]Thank You, Lord, that You hear our cries.
To hear how to respond when you are treated unjustly, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/rebuilding-unfinished-hope-economic-hardship
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.