Is He a Just God?

I don’t know for some reason, God’s Word really comes at the perfect timing. It’s like He has His own divine way of setting things in motion. Sometimes I joke that God has His own “algorithm” He knows exactly what we’re thinking about, even before we open our Bible app or pray about it.

Just this morning, during my usual devotion time on my tuktuk ride to work, I opened my YouVersion app to read and reflect. The topic for today stunned me because it connected so perfectly to what my husband, Vandy, and I had talked about the night before. Isn’t it amazing how God’s Spirit moves and speaks to us in such personal ways?

Last night, before we prayed as a family, Vandy suddenly asked me a question that took me back to a painful chapter of my life. “Why didn’t your family pursue your papa’s robbery case?” he asked. “Those people who did that to him should have been punished.”

His question brought back memories I hadn’t revisited in a long while.

The Pain of Losing Papa

My papa, Rolly, was a lay pastor in my mama’s hometown in Isabela, Philippines. He was a simple man who loved God deeply. He had a big heart for people, especially those who didn’t know Christ yet. He would often visit families, pray for them, and share the gospel message with gentleness and compassion.

But one night, everything changed.

While Papa was riding home on his motorcycle after visiting someone in the community, he was robbed and killed. It was sudden. It was painful. The shock was unbearable for all of us.

At first, the police ruled it as a drowning incident. But later investigations revealed signs that he had been forcibly held, robbed, tied to his motorcycle, and thrown into the river. The details were hard to accept. It felt unfair and senseless.

I was only twenty-two years old then. My siblings were still in school, and Mama was heartbroken. I remember sitting quietly at night, asking God, “Why him? Why this way?” There were no words to describe the mix of grief and anger we felt.

But as a family, we made a decision. We decided to let go of the case. We chose to forgive the people responsible.

Choosing to Forgive

It wasn’t an easy choice. Forgiveness never is.

We had every reason to be angry. We had the right to demand justice. But we also knew that carrying bitterness would only deepen our wounds. So, we surrendered everything to God our questions, our pain, and our need for closure.

I had to be strong for my family. I needed to work in the city to support Mama and my siblings. Dwelling on the case would have only trapped us in sadness. So we moved forward, holding on to God’s promises.

From time to time, Mama still feels the pain of losing Papa. But whenever we talk about him, I remind her of God’s goodness. I tell her, “We will see Papa again in God’s perfect time.”

Papa’s death was tragic, but his life was full of purpose. The church he planted in Isabela continues to grow. Many of Mama’s relatives came to know Christ through that ministry. Some were baptized, and one of them my niece, Cielo answered the call to serve full-time and is now pastoring that same church.

Even in death, Papa’s legacy lives on.

Read my previous post on Papa Rolly:
👉Happy Birthday Papa 
👉7 Practical Ways to Honor Fathers 
👉What is your Turning Point?

God’s Perfect Timing in His Word

So when Vandy asked that question last night, I felt my heart stirred again. The pain is still there, but so is the peace.

And then this morning, my devotion was about forgiveness.

I almost smiled through my tears when I saw the passage:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
—1 John 1:9 (NIV)

It was as if God was reminding me, “This is why you forgave. This is why you let go.”

Forgiveness is not forgetting what happened. It’s not pretending that pain never existed. It’s choosing to release the anger so that God’s healing can take over.

In that moment, I was reminded again that we forgave those who hurt Papa not because they deserved it, but because we ourselves have been forgiven by God.

A Faithful and Just God

1 John 1:9 tells us something deeply comforting about God’s nature. It says that God is both faithful and just.

He is faithful meaning He always keeps His promises. When He says He will forgive, He truly does. He doesn’t hold our past mistakes against us.

And He is just meaning He does not overlook sin. Justice will always be served, but it will be served in His way and His time, not ours.

As humans, we sometimes crave justice more than mercy. But the cross reminds us that God’s justice and love meet perfectly in Jesus. Our sins were paid in full not by our effort, but by Christ’s sacrifice.

That same forgiveness we receive is the same forgiveness we are called to extend.

When Forgiveness Feels Impossible

Forgiving those who hurt us doesn’t mean excusing what they did. It means trusting that God sees everything and will deal with it rightly. It means allowing God to be God.

There were nights I cried, asking God to take away the pain and the anger. It didn’t disappear overnight. Healing was a process. Some wounds still ache when touched by memory.

But slowly, I saw how forgiveness freed me. It allowed me to move forward without bitterness. It opened my heart to compassion. It reminded me that those who hurt my father also need Jesus.

The truth is, forgiveness doesn’t make you weak. It makes you brave. It means you’re trusting God’s justice more than your own sense of fairness.

Passing On the Value of Forgiveness

At home, forgiveness is one of the values we teach our son, David. He’s growing up in a world that often promotes pride and revenge. But we remind him that peace comes from choosing grace.

Sometimes when small misunderstandings happen at home like accidentally hurting one another’s feelings we take time to talk, apologize, and forgive. These moments may seem small, but they shape a heart that learns to love and forgive like Christ.

We remind David that God is faithful and just. When we make mistakes, we can always come to Him, confess, and receive forgiveness. That’s the kind of God we serve loving, patient, and merciful.

Living Forgiven and Free

We all fall short. We’ve all sinned in one way or another. Sometimes our biggest struggle is not forgiving others but forgiving ourselves.

We carry guilt from our past, shame from wrong decisions, or regret from words we wish we could take back. But God’s Word says we don’t have to live that way.

When we confess our sins, God doesn’t just forgive us, He cleanses us. He removes the stain of sin and gives us a fresh start.

Ephesians 4:32 reminds us:

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Forgiveness brings freedom. It lifts the burden of bitterness. It allows love to grow again.

When you’ve truly tasted God’s forgiveness, it changes how you treat others. You begin to understand that grace is not earned, it’s given.

Encouragement for Those Struggling to Forgive

If you’re reading this and struggling to forgive someone who hurt you, I understand how that feels. Maybe the wound is deep. Maybe it feels unfair to let go.

But let me encourage you, bring it to God. Don’t rush the process. Start with prayer. Tell God exactly how you feel. Ask Him to help you forgive, even when your heart isn’t ready.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean you have to restore a broken relationship right away. Sometimes boundaries are necessary. But in your heart, you can release the anger and trust God to handle the rest.

Remember that forgiveness is more for your healing than for theirs. When you forgive, you make room for God’s peace to dwell in your heart.

When You Need to Ask for Forgiveness

Sometimes, we’re on the other side of the story. Maybe we’ve been the one who hurt someone, intentionally or not.

If that’s you, don’t be afraid to humble yourself and ask for forgiveness. It’s never too late to make things right.

God’s grace covers our failures, but reconciliation often begins with a simple, sincere apology. When we own up to our mistakes, we reflect the humility of Christ.

James 5:16 says,

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”

Healing begins when we are honest with God and with one another.

Forgiveness as a Testimony

When people see forgiveness at work in our lives, they see a glimpse of Jesus.

I often think of my father’s story as a testimony of grace. The choice we made as a family to forgive didn’t erase the pain, but it allowed God’s story to shine brighter.

If we had chosen bitterness, our hearts would have hardened. But because we chose forgiveness, healing and ministry continued. The church Papa planted continues to share the gospel today. Lives are still being transformed because of his obedience and faith.

Forgiveness becomes a witness of God’s love in action. It tells the world that there is hope even after loss, peace even after pain, and grace even after sin.

Reflection: He Is Faithful and Just

When I think about 1 John 1:9, I see it as more than a verse about confession, it’s a promise of God’s character.

God is faithful. He never gives up on us.

God is just. He will always do what is right.

And because of that, we can rest. We can let go of our need for revenge. We can forgive and be forgiven.

Forgiveness is not a one-time decision; it’s a daily choice. It’s a posture of the heart that says, “Lord, I trust You more than my pain.”

Reflection Questions

1. Is there someone in your life that God is asking you to forgive today? What steps can you take to begin that process?

2. Have you fully received God’s forgiveness for your past mistakes, or are you still carrying guilt that He has already forgiven?

3. How can you model forgiveness at home, in your family, or among your friends, just as God has forgiven you?

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for being faithful and just. Thank You for forgiving me even when I didn’t deserve it. Help me to forgive others as You have forgiven me. Heal the wounds that still hurt, and replace bitterness with peace.
When I struggle to let go, remind me that You are in control. When I am the one who has caused pain, give me humility to ask for forgiveness.
Teach me to walk in freedom, grace, and love.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Forgiveness is not forgetting, it’s choosing to remember grace. It’s a daily reminder that God’s love is greater than our pain.

So today, if you are struggling to forgive, take heart. The same God who forgave you will help you forgive others. Because He is faithful. Because He is just. And because He loves you more than you could ever imagine. 

Blessings! 
Tess 💕🙏