I sat as a juror on a trial involving a father hitting his child. We were instructed to put aside our bias and feelings about the subject and those involved and simply determine what evidence or witness testimony was true beyond reasonable doubt. After the first witnesses testified on the first day, I thought that was a big ask.

By the second day, I could begin to understand as testimony began to get muddled with witnesses giving statements that this could have been an accident.

Coming to a verdict was like putting blinders on and looking for the consistencies and what truth stood out clearly. When we delivered a guilty verdict, my heart ached. I was happy that justice was being served, but the brokenness of all the parties involved was glaringly apparent.

Don’t misunderstand, when I say brokenness, I don’t mean anyone was broken down crying. I mean in a perfect world this wouldn’t happen. We all live broken lives.

I wanted to expound on the attributes of God I listed in the title of this post, but I realize that is a lot of information to squeeze into a small amount of space.

Consider this instead: Our God is inclusively holy, righteous, and just; and he is full of mercy, extending grace and forgiveness to all who ask. How can he be all of these? It flows out of his love.

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

John 3:16-17 (NLT)

Grace & Peace,

Sandy