Breaking Cycles of Injustice!

I realize the anger I was feeling was dealing with the repercussions of an on-going problem with the system of healthcare I am subject too.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer seven one-half years ago. I am cancer free and very grateful for the doctors, nurses, and the health care professional. The surgery, radiation, and chemo all helped save my life.

The anger stems from them forcing me to get implants. I didn’t want them but the doctors were insistence that I get them. I had to deal with the pain of the inflation of the expanders to make room for the implants. This causes a constant pulling on my rib muscles. A year later, the male plastic surgeon insisted I have larger implants than I wanted to replace the expanders. This put increased pressure on my ribs and back. I already had to deal with the back spasms I got because of the scar tissue from the surgeries. The hospital staff didn’t change the bloody dressing gown I was wearing after the surgery. When I asked for a clean gown, they changed my gown in front of a window. The doctor never informed my sister, that I was staying in the hospital and she waited six hours to find this out.

Three years later, I had to fight for them to remove the leaking implant. I found out that this type of implant could cause cancer. It took a year before the implant was removed. I had to have sonograms, biopsy, and an MRI before they would approve the removal. I didn’t want to go back to the surgeon who put the implants in because of how the hospital staff treated me. But, Community Care, which handles the Veteran’s healthcare outside of the Veteran’s hospital, insisted I had to go back to original surgeon.

By the time, I got the surgery, the silicone had affected my lymph nodes. I spoke to the surgeon about taking out the lymph nodes that were affected. He agreed while in his office. The day of the surgery, he said he would not remove the lymph nodes. I was about ready to walk out of surgery. The nurses listened to me and fought for me and the doctor took out a few lymph nodes. But because he didn’t do his research, he left the enlarged lymph node that had been biopsied that had the silicone. He did say the lymph nodes he took out were filled with silicone. He never fixed my chest after the removal of the implants. This left me deformed and battled scarred.

Now, the lymph node that was left in me is enlarged. I may have to have another surgery.

Systems of Injustices!

Then I heard the God say, “This is why Americans of color are anger. They have had to deal with these systems of injustices just because of their skin color. They have had to train their children to expect mistreatment and fear of those who abuse their authority. You are feeling what they have felt for generations.”

None of these injustices are right. Being angry will not bring justice. Instilling fear and expecting mistreatment does not break the cycle of injustices. Everyone has had to deal with unjust treatment. It is not a race or gender thing. Injustice is the tool of Satan to plant the seeds of anger and bring ungodly justice. Satan just uses the vehicles of race and gender to promote his destruction to destroy God’s creation.

I know these injustices with my healthcare is plowing through the veil of ignorance that the Veteran’s hospital has towards women. Being one of the first woman in a male dominated field, during the Vietnam Era, was plowing new ground for the women now enlisted in the military.

Shared restroom with broken locks, bars in co-ed barracks with drunks pounding on your door and being put on the midnight shift so your supervisor could pressure you into a sexual relationship, were just a few of the many pressures of being in a man’s field of work.

Dealing with a system that creates on going injustices?

How do you deal with a system that creates on going injustices? First, acknowledge the anger, frustration, and hopelessness over the unfairness of the situation. Second, realize that God did not make you a second-class citizen. There is no race or gender bias in the kingdom of God. Jesus died for all. He shook the religious system of the Old Testament and brought us into a kingdom where injustices were paid for by his blood on the cross.

Third, we have an advocate who will fight for us. We don’t have to fight the battle alone. Holy Spirit is our counselor, wisdom, and strategist. He knows how to win the war and not just a battle. Jesus is our Attorney and Father God is our judge. How could we lose? Our job is to bring these injustices to God and ask him to judge and compensation for these wrongs.

Fourth, we need to forgive those who brought these injustices and all the havoc they have caused in our lives. It is not because they deserve to be forgiven but because it poisons your whole being when you hold on to injustices. When we choose to forgive, notice it is a choice and not a feeling, it allows God’s justice to rule. When we don’t forgive, it boxes us into a dark room that traps us with no way out.

Redeeming Injustices!

Five, redeem the injustice! When we turn the other cheek, it allows Holy Spirit to convicts those who brought the wounds. It allows our Father God to mess with those who mess with us. When we choose to redeem an injustice, God takes this sacrificial offering of turning the other cheek, and brings life out of death. Jesus took on the hate, anger, and all the injustices of life. He died to remove their power over all lives. This gives us the right to choose to bring our own fleshly justice that multiplies hatred or to trust God to bring changes. If Saul, who murdered Christians, could be knocked off his horse and turn into the Apostle Paul, a defender of Christians, then God’s justices will work for you.  Jesus rose from the dead to provide us the tools to take back what was stolen and restore God’s kingdom.

We all pay a price for injustice. How we choose to deal with it will either create a cycle of death and destruction or life in abundances. It is your choice!

Prayer

Father God,

Help! Just as Abel’s blood cries for justice, my heart cries out for your justice. I choose to forgive people who have harmed me or made my life harder. I choose to forgive those in authority who have abused their power and created hardships for my life. I choose to forgive the systems like hospitals, courts of law, law enforcement, and other systems that have created unjust playing fields. I ask for your justice to level the playing field. I ask for wisdom, comfort, strategy, and strength to fight the battle and redeem these areas of my life. Jesus, be my Advocate and Redeemer. I choose to walk in your love and forgiveness because I trust you. You have great plans for my life and no one can stand in the way of these plans as long as I walk in your love and trust you. Heal me. Deliver me. Remove the trauma from all these injustices. Help me to see your kingdom above the world’s systems. In Jesus’s name. Amen!

Scripture – The Passion Translation: Psalms 107; Psalm 19:14; Galatian 3:13; 1 John 2:1; Acts 9