Cry out

This past week, I sit numb. Shaken. Shocked by sheer brutality.

And cry out for the ones who can’t breathe. 

Weep for those with necks slammed against asphalt under the knee of racism. Relentless, insidious racism. Again and again.

The snake slithers. Just beneath the surface of society. Often hidden in the dark. Feeding pride and arrogance. Fear. Prejudice. 

Injustice.

Kindred spirits

I reach out to my friend. We met in Birmingham, Alabama. Fall of 2017. And immediately sensed a kindred spirit. Sisters by faith. Now we’re living on opposite sides of the country. But keep in touch. And pray for each other. 

So I’m checking on her. And expressing my grief over the racism and hatred. Praying for this evil to be exposed. Uprooted. Rendered powerless. 

Deep hurt

My friend responds. Pouring out the long history of what she and her family have suffered. Deep hurt they’ve endured. Because of their race. 

Story after story. Generation after generation. Racial slurs. Visual threats. Vandalized property.

Now they train their children from a young age to respond carefully in certain situations. To record what’s happening. To hopefully save lives. Actions necessary simply because of the color of their skin. 

In the “land of the free.”

Weep

She watches the riots. The fires. Crying. Remembering Watts. 1965. The neighborhood where her family shopped. The stores that were destroyed. Never rebuilt.

“Thank you for reaching out. This is the first for me in my 67 years….”

No one ever asked. I never asked.

I weep. 

Offensive way

When I go for a walk and cry out for wisdom, He reminds me where any change begins. The verses come from a psalm often quoted to highlight the sanctity of life. A passage about our ever-present God who knows us intimately and has our days written in His book. 

“Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my concerns.
See if there is any offensive way in me;
lead me in the everlasting way.”
Psalm 139:23-24

Any offensive way. Is there any offensive way hidden in me? I must ask the question. And repent of what He brings to light.

Only then can I wholeheartedly pray for change in our churches, in our country. On earth as it is in heaven.

Sickness

The sickness that permeates our world is sin. Sin that takes up residence in human hearts. And launches racism, hatred, violence, destruction.

And no legislation can change a heart. No law can transform a mindset. Only God can do that. 

Only the gospel of Jesus Christ can do that.

So we listen. And weep. We repent and pray. We reach out and speak the gospel.

We cry out

We cry out to You, Father.
Our righteous Judge and 
tender Shepherd.
You see.
You know.
You hold Your lambs
next to Your heart.

We plead for justice. 
Mercy.  
We ask
for Your light
to expose the lie.
Reveal the unholy. 
Bring many to repentance.
Teach us Your ways
that we may walk in Your Truth.
Give us undivided hearts
that we may fear Your Name
and wholeheartedly proclaim the gospel.

In the mighty name of Jesus,
Amen.

What about you?

Are you listening? Asking Him to search your heart for any hidden sin or prejudice? Are you praying for the lie to be exposed? Are you reaching out to the hurting? Speaking the truth of the gospel? Let’s encourage one another to walk as children of light.

“Let no one deceive you with empty arguments,
for God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things. Therefore, do not become their partners.
For you were once darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord.
Walk as children of light—
for the fruit of the light consists of
all goodness, righteousness, and truth—
testing what is pleasing to the Lord.
Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness,
but instead expose them.
For it is shameful even to mention
what is done by them in secret.
Everything exposed by the light is made visible,
for what makes everything visible is light.
Therefore it is said:
Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
Ephesians 5:6-14

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