When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison. Acts 24:27

Two years?! That’s right, Paul was imprisoned for two years waiting for justice. Had justice been served, he would have been released because the charges against him were groundless. But alas, governments (and often large organizations) move slowly and are often insensitive to the plights of the individuals they are supposedly serving.

Though it is often hard to understand it, God is still in control. That does not mean that Paul’s extended wrongful imprisonment was according to God’s revealed will concerning justice. What it does mean is that even when people act wrongly, God can and does use even injustice to accomplish His greater plan. Make no mistake about it, those responsible for injustice (or any other wrongdoing) will answer to God for their sin.

What this kind of thing means for those who suffer wrong is that, though we may do what we can working through the proper channels to right the wrong, when we can do nothing, we must trust the Lord. And sometimes we may suffer loss and it may be prolonged.

There is perhaps no more dramatic example of this than the life of Joseph in Genesis 37-50. Joseph’s brothers did him wrong in a big way. He suffered for many years as a result. But in the end, God used the injustices suffered by Joseph (and there were several), to bring about God’s greater good. Let us remember Joseph’s words to his brothers in Genesis 50:20:

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

So the next time you or I suffer wrong, let us with Christ-like character do what we can to remedy the situation. But whether or not we can work the matter, let us trust that God has plans that may hinge on our dilemmas.