February 2025 Book of the Month

“How long, O Lord….?” (Psalm 13:1) When was the last time you asked that question? How long til you, fill in the blank. I ask that question from time to time. Often times it’s about something relating to me or my family. Sometimes, about other people who I know from various seasons of my life.

When I quiet my spirit and ponder this question, I wonder if the Holy Spirit might be leading me to reframe it and reflect it back to myself. “How long, Rachel? How long until you ask God about the ways in which he created you to take a stand against injustice?”  

How long….?

Over this next month, I want to invite us into a story where this question becomes a central theme. Through the asking and the wrestling, we are led to the reckoning. But, the timing belongs to the Lord. 

Jonathan and Maya’s story is reminiscent of both the story of Joseph and the story of Esther and ultimately, the story of Christ. As a 16 year old, Jonathan was convicted of a crime he did not commit and sentenced to 65 years in adult prison. Maya, coming through the ranks as a talented, hard working, basketball player, works her way to a position of power and privilege. As these stories begin to intersect, you see the hand of God at play; slowly weaving the pieces of the puzzle together. Working out his justice in the most painful and yet powerful ways.

As you read Love and Justice, I want to invite you into a couple of practices:

1. Write down your thoughts with full transparency. These are for you to work through with the Holy Spirit. Pay close attention to places where your judgement takes over or your biases reveal themselves. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand why those are there, to give you a heart of repentance and to see with his eyes and hear with his heart.
 
2. Ask the Holy Spirit how he has created you to step into areas of injustice in the world. Maybe you are a Maya or a Jonathan. But, maybe you are called to be Papa Flowers or Cheri.

3. As you read, write down questions you may want to ask Maya and Jonathan. We are working to put together a Q&A with them sometime in March. I would love to get them our questions ahead of time, so they can think through their answers prior to the Q&A. (I will announce that date once we have it solidified.)

Maya says at the end of the book, “Sometimes when you see injustice, you have to act. And sometimes taking action means telling yourself, ‘I don’t know the solution, but I’m going to keep moving to try to love this person who is worthy of love because they’re a person.’” (p.322) This is the call of every follower of Christ. But, we cannot do this work apart from God. He is the Author of Justice.

There is much more I would love to tell you about this book, about the character of Jonathan and Maya and about God’s work in dark places. But, that is not my place. My place is to invite you to enter the story for yourself, to sit with your brother and sister in Christ and see what they are eager to tell you about God’s incredible work in their lives.