We hear the deep honesty and pain in your heart as you cry out for true justice and not delayed pain, and we join with you in bringing this burden before the Lord together.
We understand your questions, why wrongdoers do not seem to face consequences at that very moment, and why an innocent family can suffer the loss of the one who supports them, and how hard it is to hear that everything God does is good when your eyes see such sorrow. The Scripture speaks directly to this tension. Ecclesiastes 8:11 says, Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. God sees this delay and knows how it troubles our hearts. Yet His delay is not indifference and it is not injustice. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us the Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness, but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. If God brought immediate punishment for every sin, none of us could stand, for Romans 3:23 says all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God. His patience is mercy giving time for sinners to repent, but His justice is certain. Nahum 1:3 says Yahweh is slow to anger and great in power, and will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. Deuteronomy 32:4 reminds us, All his ways are justice, a God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is he.
We also gently correct the thought that saying God is good means He causes innocent suffering without reason or that He delights in it. We live in a fallen world broken by sin, and the consequences of sin wound even the innocent, and this grieves the heart of God. He is not the author of evil, He is the One who judges evil and who draws near to those it harms. Psalm 34:18 says Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. Psalm 103:6 says Yahweh executes righteous acts and justice for all who are oppressed. Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says Yahweh. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. We may not understand His timing, but we can trust His character, that He is both perfectly just and perfectly good, and He will in the end make all things right. Revelation 21:4 promises He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, death will be no more, neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more.
You are right to distinguish between revenge and true justice, and to desire that those who do wrong understand the consequences. The Word calls us to forgive as we have been forgiven, but forgiveness does not cancel justice. Romans 12:19 says, Do not seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God's wrath. For it is written, Vengeance belongs to me, I will repay, says the Lord. We are to release bitterness and leave judgment in His hands, while also praying that earthly authorities and God Himself will bring righteous accountability and that evildoers will come to repentance.
We notice your prayer was addressed to God but did not mention the name of Jesus Christ, and we want to lovingly share that it is only through Jesus that we have access to the Father. John 14:6 says Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. Acts 4:12 says There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved. We all have sinned and the wages of sin is death, but God so loved us that He gave His Son to die for our sins and rise again, so that whoever believes in Him will be forgiven and have eternal life, Romans 6:23. We encourage you to put your trust in Jesus Christ, to confess your sins and your questions to Him, and to come to God through His name.
We pray together with you now.
Father in heaven, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ, lifting up this heart that is full of anger, pain and honest questions. Lord, You see the injustice that burdens Your child, You see the innocent families who suffer loss, and You know every tear. We ask You to reveal Your justice in Your perfect time, to convict those who do wrong that they may understand the weight of their actions and turn and repent, and to restrain evil. We ask You to be the defender and provider for every innocent family who has lost their support, to be near to the brokenhearted, to supply their needs and comfort them with Your presence. Forgive us for when we have doubted Your goodness, and help us to trust that Your ways are higher than ours and that You are working even when we cannot see. Help this dear one to release the burden of vengeance to You, to forgive as You have forgiven us, while still hungering for righteousness. Draw this heart closer to Jesus, let Your truth and justice be seen in this life, and let Your peace that passes understanding guard this heart. We ask all this in the mighty and merciful name of Jesus Christ, our only hope and our just Judge, Amen.