Trayvon Martin, the justice system and the justice of God.

Over the past two months the story of Trayvon Martin has been gracing the cover of newspapers all over the land.  Rallies and demonstrations have been organized from coast to coast.  Social media has been blown up with hooded protests and yours truly even got in on the action.  Politicians of all stripes and pundits from just about every imaginable media source have weighed in as the country has been mesmerized by a story that seemed to be on a fast track to no where.  And finally the judicial process began on Wednesday with a very public announcement of charges and a long anticipated arrest.

In reflecting on this week's arraignment of George Zimmerman and all the social upheaval that had preceded it, it causes me to pause and think about the justice of God.  Specifically this whole scenario reminds me of the story of the persistent widow in Luke 18.  That story has a similar plot line where a party, in this case a defrauded widow, seeks for the judicial system to do it's work.  Though initially denied she is not deterred.  Over and over she goes to the judge demanding justice.  Finally out of sheer exhaustion he grants her a day in court.  And the point that Jesus is trying to make with that story is that if justice can be served by sheer persistence how much more will our loving God look out for His children when they have need.

So we see the same plot unfolding out of the story of that fateful late night Sanford encounter.  Thousands and tens of thousands cried out for a day in court and out of sheer persistence that day arrived.  Which brings us to the point.  Trayvon's case reminds us of the one caveat to the parable of Jesus.  God asks that His people persist in prayer when the answer does not come immediately.  God is a God of love but His timing is not always ours.  Things in this life take time and you and I are not always as patient as we ought to be.  God is saying to you today, "Keep at it.  Don't give up.  Just because you don't get an answer on the first try doesn't mean it's not coming."  Friends, keep praying.  Get an answer from God.  Be it yes or be it no, He has an answer for you.  Trust the love of our Heavenly Father to do what is best for you in the right time.  But you will only receive His blessings if you wait patiently and pray persistently for them.