How do I overcome evil, suffering and injustice with joy?

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

There is a lot of evil to overcome these days. Pride, sin, deception and rebellion are rampant. What should be repented of is excused and even celebrated. Evil actions, corruption, and manipulative abuse of others for selfish gain are often rewarded, while faithfulness and doing what is right before God is repaid with harassment, betrayal, censorship, persecution, loss, injustice and slander. 

Joy and peace are the believer's inheritance, but before the ultimate fulfillment of all God has promised, a lot of pain and suffering will be encountered along our journey to joy forevermore in God's presence. (See Isaiah 55:11-12; John 16:33; Psalm 16:11).

What does a true Christ follower do? 

God's will is for each one of us is to always be filled with the joy of the Lord, pray continually and be thankful in every circumstance. If you think this is easy, you have not been tested or suffered much for doing what is good in the sight of the Lord yet. 

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV

How can I overcome with joy when I suffer great loss and pain for doing what is right? 

How can I overcome with joy in spite of the heartbreak and rejection caused by betrayal?

How can I overcome with joy when someone else’s sin, pride, lies and deception bring separation and destruction to treasured relationships and their choices perpetuate hardship and pain on the people I love?

How can I overcome with joy when evil, corruption and injustice prevail over righteousness, truth and justice in serious matters that affect my life personally? 

God’s Word has every answer. The answers may seem impossible to live out, but this is where the truth of Jesus’ words in John 15:5 apply, “…apart from Me, you can do nothing.” This is also why Jesus told us the Holy Spirit will be our teacher, our guide, our comforter and helper (John 14:16, 26; 16:13-15).

So, if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for He will never fail you.

1 Peter 4:19 NLT

Keep doing what is right.

What is doing right before God?

Pray. Never stop praying. Use the Lord’s prayer as a model (see Matthew 6:9-13). Praying it daily is helpful.

The Lord's prayer is not intended to be prayed only as a religious formality of praying words with heartless repetition. The Lord's prayer is Jesus himself reminding us to pray in a manner in line with the heart of this prayer with wholehearted sincerety. 

The Lord's prayer calls us to surrender to God's higher kingdom plan. 

The Lord's prayer call us to believe He will provide our daily bread (spiritually from His Word and physically meeting our needs).

The Lord's prayer calls us to daily repent and ask for forgiveness. 

The Lord's prayer calls us to forgive and fully release others to Him, just as we have been forgiven.

The Lord's prayer calls us to be led only by His Holy Spirit (in every decision) and not into temptation.  

The Lord's prayer calls us to ask for deliverance from evil (in the here and now and the hereafter). When we read God's Word, He alone defines what is evil and what is good (Proverbs 6:16-19; Isaiah 5:20).

In Heaven, there will be no evil, no suffering, no injustice, no sin and sickness, no sorrow, betrayal, and deception. 

The Lord's prayer guides us to pray for our Father's kingdom plan to come on earth as it is in Heaven. 

The Lord's prayer call us to pray from a place of humility and faith with a surrendered heart.

Worship.

Trust and obey God. This means we obey God’s holy and infallible Word whether we feel like it or not.

If you are censured and suffer abuse [because you bear] the name of Christ, blessed [are you–happy, fortunate, to be envied, with life-joy, and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of your outward condition], because the Spirit of glory, the Spirit of God, is resting upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 

1 Peter 4:14 Amplified Bible 

Agree with God’s Word by faith. Faith is not trusting in or relying on our emotions, our intellect, or our circumstances. Faith is still believing, trusting, and surrendering our all to the author and finisher of our faith, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12:2). We are called to live by faith and not by what we see (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot yet see.

Hebrews 11:1

For in just a little while, the coming One will come and not delay. And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.

Hebrews 10:38-39

God's Word reminds us we are blessed when we suffer abuse for obeying and following God and doing what is right before Him. We cannot allow our emotions and circumstances to dispute this and cause us to fall into doubt and disbelief in God and His Word (Hebrews 11:6).  Is this easy? No, of course not. Again, this is why the Christian life is a continual fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12).

If we never have anything to overcome, we are not overcomers in Christ.

Blessed and happy and enviably fortunate and spiritually prosperous (in the state in which the born-again child of God enjoys and finds satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of his outward conditions) are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake (for being and doing right), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven! Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous–with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account. Be glad and supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great (strong and intense), for in this same way people persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

Matthew 5:10-12 Amplified Bible

Blessed [joyful] are those who don’t just hear the Word, but follow it.

Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”

Luke 11:28

Praying for you and myself too. Help us, Holy Spirit, to have overcoming grace, peace and joy for such an evil, dark and challenging time as this, in Jesus' mighty name, amen. 

Your overcoming sister in Christ,

Joyful Jenny

Recommended Reading: The Bible; Walking with God through Pain and Suffering by Timothy Keller