"Vengeance is Mine"

"Your eyes are too pure to look on evil you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.
   Why then do you tolerate the treacherous?
   Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?"
             Habakkuk 1:13

When I read this, I thought of all the children who suffer at the hands of their "protectors."  Coming from a similar situation, it angers me.  I have often asked God why he doesn't stop the pain and suffering and why he allows his innocent children to be victimized.  It is hard to consider that God doesn't care about the suffering of his children, after all He sent His Son so that all may commune with Him eternally.  However, it is equally unfathomable that He would allow His innocent children to suffer. 

However, there is a hope.  This hope is voiced in Nahum, one of the minor prophets. 
"The Lord is slow to angerbut great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished." (1:3a)

We know the phrase "vengeance is mine, saith the Lord,"  which comes from Romans 12.  However, I always had a hard time with accepting that God would avenge the wrong done to me and to those I knew, but the verse from Nahum gives us more of a hope that we will be avenged.

I do not promote harboring anger or seeking revenge or vengeance for the wrong you've experienced.  Recognizing that God will bring about vengeance is simply a step on the road to healing and forgiveness.  I pray that as you read this God begins your journey to healing.

My Comforter

Over the past few weeks, I have seen God as my provider and sustainer.  Given this, I spent time reflecting on the aspects about God I have seen.  He is Savior, Friend, and Comforter, among others.

Of these, God has most often been my Comforter, especially as I dealt with my past and struggled with my insecurities.  He would oft remind me that I am valuable to Him and have a purpose in the world.  He would teach me about finding security in myself and my relationship with Him.  No matter how often I would forget, He patiently reminded me that my life is His and He has a great purpose for me. 

This came into focus when I felt so worthless that I contemplated just giving up.  As I struggled through many sleepless nights and lacked ears to hear His voice, He patiently called me back.  When I came close to following through, He held me back and reminded me of His great love manifested in His church.

Here I am, 3 and half years later and He is now far more than a comforter.  He is Lord of my life and my story is not about me.  It is about God who loves us so very much that He would give His own Son to be the ultimate sacrifice.  How awesome and amazing He is! 

If you do not Christ as your Savior, there are many of us who are willing to share the truth of a God who would love you that much.  If you do know Christ as Savior, God is there with you every step of every day.  All you need to do is look to the cross and trust Him to save you.