My family is a mine of anecdotal wisdom and quippy responses. I have many favorite sayings from them over the years. There’s Grandma’s “Poop or get off the pot,” Grandpa’s “Crack your own whip,” and of course Nana’s “Emotions make a great caboose, but a terrible engine” line. There’s my dad’s “You’re grounded for life” bit and “Anyone want pie?” (a running tension breaking joke in our hard-headed Hanzel conversations).
But, a top favorite has to be one quip from my Mama that never fails to brighten my spirits. It came after losing a game of checkers, after getting picked last for the wiffle ball game, during weekly chores, and before moving out of the house. She’d say, “Life’s not fair, and then ya die.” She’s not wrong.
From an early age, we’re taught the importance of fairness. And from an early age, we get little exposure to an even playing ground. Life isn’t fair sometimes.
Sometimes we work hard for that promotion and still get passed over. Sometimes we study hard for the exam and still go blank at the moment of taking it. Sometimes we lose people when we should’ve had more time together. Sometimes we get what we want, but it wasn’t as fulfilling as we’d hoped. Sometimes we build our savings up, only for an unexpected medical bill to drain it. Sometimes we work to forgive, but the offense increases. Sometimes we choose the high road and still wind up in a mess. Sometimes we get mistreated simply because of our gender or ethnicity.
Within most of us is this deep longing for fairness, for justice. When we sense or witness mistreatment, whether directed toward ourselves or those we love, we often bow up. Unfairness bears weight. When someone is bent under that weight, those standing by hopefully see the burden and long to help bring reprieve from it.
In what ways have you experienced injustice?
What moments in your life have caused you to stop and say, “That’s just not fair”?
When were you last moved to tears at the weight of injustice, whether for yourself or those around you?
Well, this is a brief blog to offer you hope.
Our hope rests in the reality that we worship the God of Justice (Psalm 89:14, Isaiah 30:18, Job 34:12, Psalm 9:7-8). He sees us and He longs to care for us in the throws of an unfair circumstance. He knows every angle of the situation and stands by us as we fight to remain blameless, despite the hurt. In His presence, He offers us reprieve from the need to defend ourselves. There is a sense of relief when we carry the injustices of life to the Mercy Seat.
Quippy anecdotes are fun, but sometimes we need more. Here are some truths to meditate on in times of injustice:
I am worthy of dignity because I am created by God, for God (Psalm 8:3-8).
The unfair and unjust things done to me do not define me (2 Corinthians 5:17).
In His presence, there is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11).
His Spirit helps me discern what injustices to persevere through versus the injustices to stand up against (James 1:5, Ephesians. 5:6-10, Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 3:17, John 14:16).
I am not alone (Isaiah 30:21, Psalm 91, Matthew 28:20).
Meet the Author!
Hammocks, hot tubs, Spotify, close friends, campfires, poetic journal entries, and well selected fonts are all contributions to Hannah Hanzel’s ideal day. She can be found pining over these in her lamp-lit office at Council Road Baptist Church, serving as the Creative Director. She enjoys conversations that include dad jokes, travel plans, theology, art, and struggles with faith. Feel free to reach out: hannahhanzel@yahoo.com.
