“For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.” – Isaiah 30:18

It is in the courtroom that this question comes to mind. As a foster mom, I frequent the halls of justice quite often as a silent member of the lives of those I care for 24/7. History. Tragedy. Heartache. Mistakes. Looking the other way. Neglect. Unaware. The topics are all the same with simple twists here and there, all coming back to the same common element: God is just — where is the justice?

I’ve held the hands of littles as we walk to the car. Their every step trusting mine. Their minds confused, scared, unsettled — as the judge folds the file and reaches for another. Lawyers who were just angry at one another, fighting to make this motion or dismissal, laughing moments later about some event they’d all attended or a golf game gone by. And I find myself asking: Lord, do You see this? Do You hear their cries?

But those questions don’t stop in the courthouse. I’ve asked them in hospital corridors, too.

A few years ago, my sister — vibrant, driven, full of purpose — was diagnosed with Glioblastoma, Grade 4. Only months before, she had been named to the Georgia State Board of Nursing, an honor she had longed for and worked so hard to obtain. She had just purchased her own home, bought a new car, and was nearly finished with her Master’s degree. Life was opening up for her in ways she had dreamed of. And then, in the reading of an MRI, it all ended.

And now, our nation mourns a young leader — Charlie Kirk. At just 31 years old, with a wife and two small children, his life was stolen by assassination. He was bold in his faith, fearless in his convictions, and yet vulnerable to the evil that lurks in the hearts of men. The images of his death shook millions. Once again, we find ourselves crying out: Where is the justice? How could this happen?

How do we reconcile these moments? The confusion of children abandoned by the very people meant to protect them. The loss of a sister whose dreams were cut short. The murder of a young husband and father whose voice was silenced too soon. How do we hold the truth that God is just alongside the harsh reality of a world that so often feels cruel and unjust?

The truth is — God’s justice is not always immediate, nor is it always visible. What feels delayed to us is never forgotten by Him. Justice, in His hands, is not only about punishment or reward but about restoration — of hearts, of lives, of creation itself.

Sometimes His justice shows up in quiet ways: the healing of a child’s trust, the mending of a broken heart, the courage of a widow standing strong, or the ripple effect of a life lived faithfully. And other times, it feels hidden — waiting for that day when every wrong will be made right before His throne.

Until then, we wait. We walk by faith. We live justly ourselves, even when the world does not. We cling to His promise that justice will come, even if not in the way or timing we long for.

So when the courtroom feels cold, or the MRI brings devastation, or violence steals a leader in his prime, we anchor ourselves in this: God sees. God knows. God is just. And one day, His justice will roll down like waters, and His righteousness like a mighty stream.

Closing Prayer:
Lord, when life feels unfair and injustice surrounds me, remind me that You are just. Help me trust in what I cannot yet see. Give me strength to walk faithfully and to bring glimpses of Your justice into this world until the day You make all things new. Amen.