Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Which of you desires life, and covets many days to enjoy good?
Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry.
The face of the LORD is against evildoers, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears, and rescues them from all their troubles.
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.
– Psalm 34:11-18

Knowing God and following His desire for us to “do good” will bring us to the deepest of joys and the goodness of life. Turning away from the things we do wrong means seeking a peace with God and others. And yet, we will face hardship, meanness, injustice - the difficulties that life throws at us. Those events will be withstood better if we stay connected to God. God will help us, strengthen us, and enable us to experience joy in the midst of pain.

Along with other Westminster Church members we have met with members of Grace Presbyterian Church and studied books which describe the sorrow of these African American friends who live with the sting of injustice and racial prejudice in their daily lives. Members of Grace Church, though hurt by these behaviors from others, speak of the love that they experience from God, a love which gives them strength to not be bitter and to have joy even as they work to address the racism that they face. They remind us to seek God’s Spirit, do good, and receive his deliverance when the troubles of life overwhelm us.

PRAYER:

Oh Lord, our hearts break when we see injustice done and pain experienced. We seek your will, and we want to do good, so that we may be counted among the righteous. Grant us the promised presence of your Spirit. Amen.

– Barbara and Hetz Marsh