“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” —Ephesians 4:31-32

“But that’s not fair!” Has your child ever said this to you? Have you ever heard someone who experienced an injustice lash out in anger? Perhaps like me, you’ve seen people who were doing what was right, loving and serving the Lord, and living for Him, suddenly come down with an illness, disease, or loss. Perhaps that person has even been you. If so, I want to challenge you to open your heart to what God has to say through Ephesians 4 today. Put aside the injustice or undeserved circumstances in your life, and allow God to speak to you through His truth.

We could read verse 31 several times a year (maybe even hundreds of times!), but often it’s not until a trial or time of injustice comes that God’s words mean the most. God tells us that no matter what comes in our lives whether it be bitterness or anger, we are to put it aside. He doesn’t tell us to seek revenge then put it aside. He doesn’t justify us holding on to our bitterness. God commands us to put aside all hurt or anger that we may feel.

Sadly, many Christians become bitter or angry with God when injustices occur. They don’t understand why they are suffering while others who aren’t living for God seem to be living happy lives. The Psalmist addressed this when he wrote, “Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity” (Psalm 37:1). God encourages us, “Don’t worry about what is happening to others. I have a special plan for your life, so trust My path to bring you to that plan.”

But God doesn’t want us to just put aside our hurts; He wants us to show kindness. When we are wronged by others and have put aside our anger, God wants us to also show kindness to them. God goes on in verse 32 to say, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” While it is hard enough to let go of hurt feelings, showing kindness takes special grace from God.

Our kindness and forgiveness to others is not based on our feelings but on Christ’s action on the Cross. His entire earthly ministry was about forgiveness—coming to earth to die and pay the price for our sins, thus forgiving us of any wrongdoing. We should forgive others and show them kindness because God has first forgiven us.

What injustice have you experienced? Has someone wronged you or has an “unfair” situation come into your life? Rather than harboring bitterness and anger, put aside those feelings and focus on showing kindness. If you’re having trouble seeing how God is working in your situation, take time right now to read Psalm 37. Let God’s words encourage you to surrender to His path for your life, even if that includes suffering injustices.(Dr. Paul Chappell)

And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

O Christians! I am afraid, I am afraid–that you do not run so often as you should–to the breasts of this promise, nor draw that sweetness and comfort from it, that it would yield, and that your several cases may require: “We know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” I have been the longer upon this verse, because the condition of God’s people calls for the strongest cordials, and the choicest and the sweetest comforts. (This was written by James Smith about 150 years ago, but it is still true.)

It is better to trust God than to try to understand Him–ask Job!

I can empathize with the man who said, “I write down everything I want to remember. That way, instead of spending a lot of time trying to remember what it is I wrote down, I spend the time looking for the paper I wrote it on.” Most of us are able to forget much better than we remember.

Yet God assures us that He will never forget us. Not for a second are we ever out of His thoughts. In fact, Isaiah tells us that we are inscribed on the very palms of His hands?the part of our body we use to reach out and demonstrate our love and concern through the ministry of touch. And the palms are the most tender part of those hands. So it is with compassionate and tender love that God has engraved us on His divine palms.

Sometimes in the midst of our troubles it may seem as if God has overlooked us. We pray and God doesn’t seem to hear us. We read our Bibles, but the verses all seem lifeless and meaningless. We look for solutions, but God provides no answers.

Despite your circumstances, remember where your name is engraved. Be assured that God has not forgotten you. The forgetfulness that is so common with humans can never afflict Him. Jesus’ nail-pierced palms are vivid reminders of — His unending love. Give God time to accomplish His purpose in your life. Have confidence that your situation is only temporary. Stand firm on God’s promise, “Yet will I not forget you.” You’re in good hands with God.

God always oversees; He never overlooks—Woodrow Kroll