Finding Refuge in God Amidst Injustice and Suffering

Devotional

Day 1: Honest Lament: Bringing Our Disappointment to God

It is not uncommon to feel abandoned or disappointed by God, especially in times of trouble or injustice. The Psalms give us permission to voice these raw emotions honestly, without pretending that everything is fine or that faith always guarantees a problem-free life. When we cry out, “Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” we join a long line of believers—including Job, Martin Luther, and even Jesus—who have wrestled with God’s apparent absence. Rather than turning inward and letting disappointment fester into bitterness, we are invited to bring our honest questions and pain before God, trusting that He welcomes our lament and meets us in our vulnerability. [36:41]

Psalm 10:1 (ESV)
Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

Reflection: When was the last time you felt disappointed or abandoned by God? Take a few minutes today to honestly express those feelings to Him in prayer, without holding back or pretending.

Day 2: The Reality of Injustice and the Temptation to Retaliate

In a world where the wicked often seem to prosper and the vulnerable are preyed upon, it is easy to feel powerless and tempted to take justice into our own hands. Psalm 10 paints a vivid picture of the arrogance and schemes of those who victimize others, and the frustration that comes when human systems fail to deliver justice. Yet, the Psalm warns us against repaying evil with evil or letting our pain turn us into victimizers ourselves. Instead, we are called to recognize the brokenness of both human institutions and our own hearts, and to resist the urge to retaliate, trusting that God sees and knows every injustice. [51:56]

Psalm 10:2-11 (ESV)
In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised. For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord. In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.” His ways prosper at all times; your judgments are on high, out of his sight; as for all his foes, he puffs at them. He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.” His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity. He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless; he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket; he lurks that he may seize the poor; he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net. The helpless are crushed, sink down, and fall by his might. He says in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.”

Reflection: Think of a time when you were wronged or treated unfairly—how did you respond? Is there someone you are tempted to retaliate against today, and what would it look like to surrender that desire to God?

Day 3: Surrendering to the Rule of God and Praying for Justice

When we are hurt or see injustice, our hope is not in our own ability to set things right, but in the God who sees, hears, and acts on behalf of the afflicted. The Psalmist models a bold, even audacious, prayer—calling on God to arise, to remember the afflicted, and to break the power of the wicked. This is not a call for personal vengeance, but a surrender to God’s righteous rule and a plea for His justice to prevail. Even as we wait for God’s justice, we are invited to present our real needs to Him, trusting that He is the helper of the fatherless and the defender of the vulnerable. [54:28]

Psalm 10:12-15 (ESV)
Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted. Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”? But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless. Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none.

Reflection: Who in your life or in the world do you see suffering injustice right now? Take time today to pray specifically for them, asking God to act on their behalf and to strengthen your trust in His justice.

Day 4: Christ the Suffering Victim and Our Refuge

Jesus Christ, the only truly innocent one, experienced the greatest injustice and suffering, yet He did not retaliate or adopt a victim mentality. Instead, He entrusted Himself to God’s plan, prayed for His enemies, and through His death and resurrection, turned victimhood into victory. Because Jesus has walked the path of suffering and injustice, He is able to deeply empathize with our pain and offers us a pathway to healing through the cross. No matter what wrongs we endure, we can take refuge in the God of justice, knowing that Christ has gone before us and stands with us in every trial. [01:02:27]

Isaiah 53:3-5 (ESV)
He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to take refuge in Christ’s understanding and healing today? How can you invite Him into your pain and trust Him to walk with you through it?

Day 5: Following the Example of Jesus: Responding to Injustice with Trust and Forgiveness

The way of Jesus is not to repay evil for evil, but to entrust ourselves to the God who judges justly and to pray for those who hurt us. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are called to follow Christ’s example—responding to injustice with restraint, forgiveness, and prayer for our enemies. This is only possible as we rely on the presence of the risen Christ within us, who equips us to move in an opposite spirit and to seek the good even of those who wrong us. In doing so, we become living witnesses to the hope and justice of God in a broken world. [01:05:42]

1 Peter 2:21-23 (ESV)
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

Reflection: Who is someone who has hurt or wronged you that you can pray for today? Ask God to give you the strength to forgive them and to entrust your situation to His justice.

Sermon Summary

In the midst of a world where injustice and suffering are all too real, the invitation is to find true refuge in God, especially when we feel victimized or wronged. Life often presents a stark contrast between how things should be and how they actually are. While we may expect justice and goodness to prevail, reality often shows the wicked prospering and the innocent suffering. Psalm 10 gives voice to this tension, offering a raw and honest lament that refuses to pretend everything is fine. Instead, it models how to bring our deepest disappointments and questions before God, even when He seems distant.

The psalmist’s cry, “Why, O Lord, do you stand far away?” is not just ancient poetry—it echoes the experience of countless believers, including Jesus Himself, who on the cross cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This honest questioning is not a sign of weak faith, but of authentic relationship with God. Rather than turning inward and allowing disappointment to fester into bitterness, the psalmist chooses the path of lament—voicing pain and confusion directly to God.

Psalm 10 also offers a sobering analysis of the reality of evil: predators and oppressors often seem to escape justice, and human institutions, no matter how well-intentioned, are ultimately broken and unable to fully right the wrongs of this world. The temptation is strong to take justice into our own hands, to retaliate or repay evil with evil. Yet, the psalmist models a different way—surrendering the desire for vengeance to God, and boldly asking Him to act on behalf of the afflicted.

This surrender is not passive resignation, but an active trust in God’s justice and His heart for the vulnerable. The psalmist’s prayer for God to “break the arm of the wicked” is a plea for God to break the power of evil, not a call for personal revenge. Ultimately, the hope is not in immediate vindication, but in the assurance that God hears, strengthens, and will one day set all things right.

Jesus Christ embodies this path perfectly. Though He suffered the greatest injustice, He did not retaliate, but entrusted Himself to the Father, praying even for His enemies. Through the cross, Jesus became both the ultimate victim and the ultimate victor, showing us that no suffering is beyond His understanding. By following His example and relying on the Spirit, we can find the strength to forgive, to pray for those who hurt us, and to take refuge in the God of justice, even as we wait for the day when He will make all things new.

Key Takeaways

1. Lament is a Pathway to God, Not a Sign of Weakness Bringing our honest questions and disappointments to God, as the psalmist does, is an act of faith. Lament allows us to voice our pain and confusion rather than suppressing it, creating space for God to meet us in our vulnerability. This practice keeps our hearts soft and open to God’s presence, even when He feels distant. [36:41]
2. The Reality of Evil and the Limits of Human Justice Psalm 10 confronts us with the uncomfortable truth that evil often goes unpunished and human systems fail to deliver true justice. Recognizing this reality prevents us from placing ultimate hope in institutions or our own ability to set things right. Instead, it drives us to seek refuge in God, who alone is perfectly just and attentive to the cries of the oppressed. [50:44]
3. The Temptation to Retaliate and the Call to Surrender When wronged, the natural impulse is to take matters into our own hands, seeking revenge or harboring bitterness. The psalmist shows a better way: surrendering the desire for vengeance to God and trusting Him to act. This surrender is not weakness, but a courageous act of faith that frees us from the cycle of harm and allows God’s justice to prevail in His timing. [52:35]
4. Jesus, the Ultimate Victim and Victor Jesus fully entered into the experience of injustice, suffering betrayal, false accusation, and death, yet He did not retaliate. Instead, He entrusted Himself to the Father and prayed for His enemies, transforming victimhood into victory through the cross. His example assures us that He understands our pain and empowers us to respond with forgiveness and trust. [61:47]
5. Living Out the Way of Jesus by the Spirit Following Jesus’ example in the face of injustice is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. As we are united to Christ, His Spirit enables us to forgive, to pray for those who hurt us, and to find peace in God’s justice. This is the path to true refuge and healing, even as we await the final restoration of all things. [65:42]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[18:38] - Worship: Finding Rest in Christ
[20:11] - Opening Prayer and Community Needs
[21:27] - Announcements and Upcoming Events
[22:47] - Back-to-School Outreach and Serving Opportunities
[24:44] - Giving Thanks for Generosity
[26:43] - Inviting Spiritual Conversations
[27:53] - Rediscovering Discipleship and the Psalms
[28:34] - Reading and Reflecting on Psalm 61
[30:29] - The Gap Between Theory and Reality
[32:57] - When the Wicked Prosper: The Problem of Injustice
[34:43] - The Structure and Purpose of Lament Psalms
[36:01] - Honest Questions: Feeling Abandoned by God
[43:01] - The Rule of the Wicked: A Portrait of Predators
[46:51] - Personalizing the Experience of Victimization
[52:35] - Surrendering to the Rule of God
[57:38] - The Resolution: Hope in God’s Justice
[60:00] - Jesus: The Suffering Victim and Victor
[63:49] - Following Christ’s Example in Suffering
[66:25] - Prayer and Response

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Psalm 10 (ESV) — (Consider reading the whole psalm together, but especially verses 1, 12-18)

1 Peter 2:21-23 (ESV) — _For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly._

Psalm 22:1 (ESV) — _My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?_

Observation Questions

In Psalm 10:1, what is the psalmist’s honest question to God, and how does he express his feelings about God’s presence?
According to the sermon, what are some of the ways the wicked are described as acting towards the vulnerable in Psalm 10?
How does the psalmist respond to the reality that evil people seem to get away with their actions? What does he ask God to do?
In 1 Peter 2:21-23, what does Peter say about how Jesus responded to suffering and injustice?

Interpretation Questions

The psalmist’s question, “Why, O Lord, do you stand far away?” is echoed by Jesus on the cross (Psalm 22:1). What does this tell us about the place of honest lament in the life of faith?
The sermon points out that human institutions and systems often fail to deliver true justice. Why is it important for believers to recognize the limits of human justice?
The psalmist prays for God to “break the arm of the wicked.” How does the sermon explain this kind of language, and what does it reveal about the psalmist’s trust in God?
According to 1 Peter 2:21-23 and the sermon, what does it mean to “entrust yourself to him who judges justly” when you are wronged or hurt?

Application Questions

The sermon says that lament is not a sign of weak faith, but a pathway to God. When was the last time you brought your honest disappointments or questions to God? What happened, and how did it affect your relationship with Him?
Have you ever experienced a situation where you or someone you know was wronged and justice was not served? How did you respond, and what would it look like to seek refuge in God instead of taking matters into your own hands?
The natural impulse when wronged is to retaliate or become bitter. Is there a situation in your life right now where you are tempted to “repay evil with evil”? What would it look like to surrender that desire for vengeance to God?
The psalmist’s prayer for God to act is bold and honest. Are there people or situations you need to pray about with this kind of honesty, asking God to bring justice or healing? What holds you back from praying this way?
Jesus, though He suffered the greatest injustice, did not retaliate but prayed for His enemies. Is there someone in your life who has hurt you that you need to forgive or pray for? What step could you take this week to follow Jesus’ example?
The sermon says that following Jesus’ example in the face of injustice is only possible through the Holy Spirit. What would it look like for you to rely on the Spirit’s power to forgive, pray for those who hurt you, or find peace in God’s justice?
The psalmist finds hope not in immediate vindication, but in the assurance that God hears and will one day set all things right. How can you remind yourself of this hope when you feel discouraged by injustice or suffering?

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