Yesterday we started to look at how strongholds are built. Today we’re going to focus on one way insignificance is built…through injustice. Is this your first time here? You can catch up on 31 Days of Significance.
(Also…I’m really tired so I hope this post makes sense. )
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Injustice:
a wrong committed, an unfair act, a violation of rights, suffering hardship or loss undeservedly, lack of justice.
Injustice is everywhere we look. It’s an unfortunate byproduct of a fallen world. Injustice often impacts our life through various forms of rejection. We don’t deserve the treatment we’ve been dealt, but there’s no remedy, resolution, or apology. The circumstances can’t be changed and it molds our past and future.
The perfect example of injustice is the life of Joseph. He was imprisoned, sent to Egypt as a slave, rejected, falsely accused and imprisoned, and he had done nothing to deserve such treatment. But it altered his life forever.
There are two types of injustice: real and perceived.
A real injustice would be
being wrongly accused, like Joseph.
child slavery or sex trafficking.
being discriminated on the basis of race, gender, orientation.
someone speaking untruth over a person, such as “you’re worthless, you’re stupid, you’ll never amount to anything.”
physical or sexual abuse.
love being withheld or having to meet certain conditions.
abandonment by a spouse, father, mother, etc.
A real injustice is being dealt something you did not deserve and no recourse has been given.
A perceived injustice would be
when a parent tells their child they can’t watch their favorite show one night. The child may feel it’s a wrong suffered against them, but it’s not.
when you make a dessert for an event and add an extra special touch and no one mentions or notices it. You’re looking for recognition, to be applauded, and it wasn’t met.
a bad grade or performance mark.
when you have a good idea and someone else brings it up before you (this would be perceived if the other person did not know you had the same idea).
when we think we don’t matter, because no one went out of their way to notice us.
A perceived injustice is essentially whenever you don’t get what you want and you felt you deserved it.
It’s very easy for injustices to lead to insignificance. We look at our circumstances, what has been dealt to us and we feel we lack value, have no meaning, importance, presence, or impact.
We see what has been done to our lives and walk away with the conclusion we are unimportant, not worth considering, and have no influence, no power, no say.
The difference between a real injustice and a perceived injustice is a fine line in the sand. It’s often hard to tell or distinguish the difference.
But the truth is we have an identity to behold in Christ. We have been bought and sealed by His redeeming love, and the Bride of Christ is in no way insignificant.
We have everything we need in Him.
What’s an example of an injustice, real or perceived, in your life?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I worship, attend, and work at our church which is in the inner parts of our city. I am faced with REAL injustice every day — homelessness, gangs, sex trafficking, abuse of every kind. God is giving me such an righteous anger for these injustices. Some days it is so overwhelming. Great post. Hope you got some rest!
I think it’s my perceived injustices that create the most turmoil in my heart…