Letters to the Church: Emotions and Racism Uzorak

Dear Tired One

In the pursuit of seeing God’s multi-ethnic kingdom on earth as it is in heaven, where there is belonging in diversity and unity abounds, there are some people who are tired. They are worn down by the stories of racism, prejudice and unjust outcomes near and far. They are exhausted because they have lifted up their voices, raised their placards and signed the petitions for a change that has not yet come. They are tired of being pacified or patronised by others whilst each story they hear or experience they face tears at their heart, wearing away at their resolve as they continue watching, waiting, hoping for change. This is a letter to the tired ones.

Dear tired one,

Proverbs 13:12 says that “hope deferred makes the heart sick…” and you feel that in your soul. Months, years or decades desiring to see change in the systems of oppression that deny you and others of their God-given dignity. Tired by the spectrum of emotions each tale triggers and traumatised by the pain of past stories. Your heart aches desperately longing for something different and the glimmer of change is soon snubbed by the same story replayed in a different situation. You lack the words to articulate your pain and your tears speak in those times. Your might is waning but the fight for justice is a burning desire - sometimes it rages (as you lean into the actions and the conversations) other times it flickers (as you shut the world out to protect yourself.) But to you I say this, place your hope in the work of Christ.

“The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength (Isaiah 40:31).” Racism is a fight against principalities and powers of darkness (Ephesians 6:12) so our hope should not be in the worldly justice system, institutions or authorities alone. We cannot rely on charities or movements, but our hope must be founded in the God who carried this sin on Himself overcoming its power and bearing the weight of its pain. As Christians, we live in the tension between the work of Christ that has been done and us seeing the fullness of it. This side of heaven, our existence requires endurance as we wait for His promises to be fulfilled, and where that tension can lead to tiredness God has given us hope that enables us to endure.

The biblical definition of hope is far from the wishful expression that is generally used today. Here, the use of hope is a confident expectation of good. This can be hard when looking at the topic of racism, especially if you are fatigued or fearing the future. Hope is not a feeling of optimism that a circumstance will change; it’s a decision rooted in the knowledge of who God is. When we hope, we wait for and expect God to show Himself as faithful, relying on His sovereignty, His character and His promises. From Genesis to Revelation, scriptures testify that God is faithful to fulfil every promise. As we live in the in-between, the strength to endure must come from Him. We find hope in our relationship with God. Isaiah 40 reminds us that He is a limitless source of strength (never getting tired) but also that He gives strength freely when we put our hope in Him. If your strength needs to be renewed today, search the scriptures to encourage your heart and find rest for your souls and “may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13).

Reflection Points

To the tired ones:

• Find scriptures about the character and faithfulness of God to root your hope in
• Question: what can you do to find rest for your mind and body - are you honouring the Sabbath?
• Consider speaking to a pastoral or professional counsellor or friend who you can be open and honest with about the fatigue you are feeling

To the rest of the church:

• Pray for and reach out to those that you know have been affected by racism directly or triggered by racist events in the media
• Pray for the justice system, institutions, authorities, charities and movements; that God will influence change and put Godly people in positions of power.