Child Custody Devotional - Vengeance? Or Patience...

...at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. Zephaniah 3:19

Receiving this passage can lead us in a couple of different directions. It can engender anger, vengeance or wrath. I prefer, though, to receive it as a call for patience, humility and agency.

I take it as patience, that the time for resolution may not be now, today or even what might seem like soon, or certainly as soon as we’d like. Patience in that there is no reason to dwell on the Other Side’s attacks or oppressive actions. We are reassured, long-term, and redirected towards those simple things we need to do today for ourselves, for our family and for our community.

I take it as humility in that we don’t have to deal with challenges alone, as a question of whether we should or even could if we wanted to do so. Who are we to render ultimate justice? Let us redirect our attention to those simple things we need to do today for ourselves, for our family and for our community.

Agency relates to our sense of control, our sphere of influence. Dealing with our oppressors is outside of it, both practically and spiritually. Dealing with ourselves is not. Find flow in the simple action of a well-prepared meal, a task well performed or even a breath well taken. What can we control...? Those simple things we need to do today for ourselves, for our family and for our community.