By Augustus Henry (PhD)
Although this message cites information from the United States and North America, its truths are relevant the world over. Most nations and political systems around the world have, in some shape or form, promised prosperity to their citizens. However, success often travels one way, and that is up. Those who already have seem to get more, and those at the lower end of the economic scale appear to experience the opposite. In a climate where presidents have been charged for enriching themselves and judges are bribed at the highest levels; that portents for a system where immorality determines the integrity or lack thereof in current society.
The broken agenda.
America has a constitution that promotes the pursuit of happiness and individual success. However, most will agree that that promise is a long way from becoming a reality for most of us. Don’t get me wrong, some are ripping the success, sometimes through scheming or using their power, wealth, and influence to reap ill-gotten gains, while many hard-working people continue to remain broke with nothing to show for their hard work. I have heard many remark that the harder people work, the more indebtedness they incur. As it relates to wealth inequality, did you know that in 2020, the bottom 90% received 60.2% of all wages, which is the lowest share since data tracking started in 1937. In 2021, the top 10% of Americans had 70% of all U.S. wealth.
Did you know that a functioning and affordable healthcare system remains elusive in the United States. As uncovered by analysis of government data, around 1 in 10 adults have medical debt. That is about 30 million Americans. Top politicians in that country have often cited the potential for middleclass people becoming bankrupt of medical bills. Of that number, three million people owe more than $10,000. Black adults, people with disabilities, and those in poor health are most likely to have significant medical debt. That is still true in 2023.
Did you know, that when it comes to housing, according to Pew Research, 49% of Americans said finding affordable housing in their community was a “major problem” in 2021. This is an increase of 10 percentage points from early 2019. Today in Los Angeles, California, more than 60 thousand people live on the streets (NPR). Stagnant wages are deeply entwined with housing concerns.
As it relates to racism, do you know that there is a current backlash to the progress made by Martin Luther King and many others in earlier decades. They now target the education of children and their understanding of race and racism in the United States. Many powers in this country are trying to undo the equality progress made during the Civil Rights Movement.
So, this land and many others around the world are broken and need fixing if we are to be happy, successful, and free. Politicians, academics, social activists, and scientists have yet to find a fix for the broken nations. So, where do we look for the remedy to a broken society?
Fixing a broken society.
There has always been a fix for broken societies. That fix has worked in the past and is still viable today. We read about the city of Nineveh in the scriptures. That place was wicked and immoral. They were on a track to self-destruction. However, they avoided disaster and extinction because of their supplication to the almighty God.
2 Chronicles 7:14; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Families are Broken too.
On the family level, our children are becoming more and more wayward, our relationships are becoming more tense and less trusting. Husbands blame wives and wives blame their spouses for broken relationships. Many children don’t even see their parents. They are shipped into foster care. The killing among the young is up to epidermic proportions. In all of this societal trauma, there is a fix for our communities, there is a remedy for our family disintegration. And that answer is prayer.
God can repair broken families.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray for everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).
If you are looking for peace in your family, prayer is the answer. If you are looking to fix broken children, prayer is the answer. If you are looking for harmony in your relationships, prayer is a reasonable remedy.
But when you come to God in prayer you must believe that he is able:
Hebrews 11:6 … for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Again, the remedy to broken communities: If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
It is also necessary to understand that in addition to believing that God is able, we must be willing to have patience as we wait for his results. Because the bible says “They that wait upon the lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint.”
The following song is a good source of reflection when we wait on God to repair a broken situation:
What do you do when you’ve done all you can
And it seems like it’s never enough?
And what do you say
When your friends turn away
And you’re all alone, alone?
Tell me, what do you give when you’ve given your all
And it seems like you can’t make it through?
Well, you just stand when there’s nothing left to do
You just stand, watch the Lord see you through
Yes, after you’ve done all you can,
You just stand
God’s message to us is If the people who are called by his name shall humble themselves and pray, while believing and waiting on God, any broken situation can be restored.