Hope in a Broken World

“The Lord isn’t slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn’t want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act.” 2 Peter 3:9 (GW)

When God looks down on the earth and sees so much sin in the world, why does he put up with it? He’s got the power to shut it all down. So why is he allowing a broken planet to continue to limp along?

Because although the world’s broken, God is still in control—and history is moving toward a climax. History is his story, and he’s not finished yet.

The Bible says in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord isn’t slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn’t want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act” (GW). 

God is patiently enduring all the grief that he sees on this planet. Why? Because he’s waiting for people to step across the line and follow Jesus as their Savior and Lord. He wants all people to become part of his family—that includes me!

And if I'm in his family, he wants me to tell everyone I know about the Good News of Jesus because he wants them in his family too. God is waiting so that more people have the opportunity to receive his grace.

Many people say, “I can’t believe in a God who would callously stand by, unmoved, and watch children suffer.” I don’t believe in that kind of God either!

I believe in a God who weeps when he sees the people he created hurting each other. And I believe in a God who is one day going to stop evil dead in its tracks and settle the score. The Bible says there’s going to be a day when God judges all sin and evil.

But here’s the good news: Since I’ve accepted Jesus as my Savior, I don’t need to fear that day. The Bible says, “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1 NLT). That means when I stand before God, I won’t stand there alone or ashamed. I'll stand in his grace—totally forgiven, because of what Jesus has already done for me on the cross.

Yes, the world is broken, and yes, there’s evil—but God is in control. He’s still got the whole world in his hands. And he’s giving everyone a little more time to choose him and to tell others about his love for them.

What am I waiting for? 

In summary: 

God has not forgotten His promises, nor is He slow to act—He is patient, giving the world time to repent and turn to Him. Though the world is broken and filled with sin, God is still in control and history is moving toward His final plan. He endures the grief of evil because He desires everyone to have the opportunity to receive His grace and join His family through Jesus. For those who have accepted Christ, there is no condemnation, only forgiveness and hope. Until the day He sets all things right, God calls me to trust His timing, live in His grace, and share the Good News so that others may also find life in Him.

Bottom line: 

God delays judgment out of love, giving everyone more time to turn to Him—and if I already belong to Christ, my role is to share His grace and hope with others. 

I need to prayerfully identify one person in my life who needs encouragement, hope, or an introduction to God’s love—and then take a small, intentional action to reach out to them this week (a conversation, a note, a prayer, or an invitation).