Dear Fellow Justice Traveler,

About a month after the presidential transition I was in a meeting with a local politician who was feeling the weight of all that was happening in the world. Her heart was heavy and as an African American community leader in a predominately white city she expressed her distress.

“Talk to me Michelle. Help me get out of my head. Just start talking.”

Not knowing where to begin, words began to tumble out. As I was speaking, it didn’t take long for her to begin to dialogue. 

“Everyone keeps saying, ‘We survived last time. We can survive again.’”

At that phrase, my face contorted and I began to subtly shake my head. She caught it immediately and asked why it didn’t resonate with me.

I responded, “Not everyone survived; people died.” We both held that moment of grief and solidarity and then I began again. “We did endure and we need to pray for strength to endure again.”

“We did endure and we need to
pray for strength to endure again.”

Endurance is not simply about marking time although patience and forbearance are a part of it. Endurance speaks to remaining, to staying intact when everything around is coming unglued. It’s choosing hope instead of cynicism, faith despite what we see. It’s living life with intention and purpose even when what’s ahead looks bleak.

This endurance is a resistance to the forces demanding our submission by pushing against the powerful, self-seeking rivers of injustice and streams of unrighteousness with the justice and righteousness of God. 

Each day as I walk out this holy resistance, I need encouragement to keep enduring. I am assuming you do too which is why over the next 10 weeks I will be sharing a devotional series I wrote three years ago for the launch of my second book. 

I wrote the book to help define the work of the people of God between marching and elections. After the votes have been counted, the signs put down for the day, what do we do now?

If you or anyone in your world are asking what a life of justice work and holy resistance can look like, I’d encourage you to check out Join the Resistance and, of course, its correlating Spotify playlist.

One day crooked paths will be made straight, valleys exalted and mountains made low. Until everyone can walk in peace, we must pick up the mantles left for us and continue to do the long work of resistance. Be encouraged dear friends, we are not alone. Justice work is about joining up and doing the work together.

Praying for Strength to Endure,
~Michelle