Misery = Ministry

Pastor Steven Furtick of Elevation Church preached a sermon on Prodigy Prerequisites in his series called The Prodigy in Me.  One of the things he talked about was embracing your misery and turning it into your ministry.  If you look at what makes you miserable, what grieves you...that's usually where your passion lies.  How do you turn your misery into your ministry?

How have I applied this in my life?  Injustice grieves me deeply.  This is why I have a passion for the law, and specifically criminal defense.  My calling is to help bring justice to the accused.


 I've heard many people say, "How can you defend criminals?"  "How can you defend somone when you know they are guilty?"  Here are my responses: 1.  The accused are Innocent until proven Guilty! 2.  It's not always easy.  Many cases are a struggle.  My sister was killed by a drunk driver.  So every DUI case I come in contact with hits a nerve.  But this is where the Lord takes me out of my comfort zone and makes me work toward the end goal of Justice.  This was also another point Pastor Furtick preached about.  Are you willing to exchange your comfort for your calling?  It's not always about my comfort, it's about what God is doing IN and THROUGH me for His plan.

As for exchanging my comfort zone for my calling...I am quitting my job to go to Law School this Fall.  I am most definitely going to be out of my comfort zone and the next three years will be like Hell.  But as Furtick said, "If you're going through Hell, don't stop cause it only means you must be close to what God has for you on the other side." 3.  I view criminal defense as a checks and balances system.  Without defense attorneys, the police and prosecutors would be free to operate however they wished regardless of the law.  I see criminal defense work as a way of keeping the justice system running smoothly and fairly so that when someone is wrongfully accused, they will be found innocent. Ok, let's apply this checks and balances system to current events.  Let's make this real for you...very Real!  Let's take James Holmes, the suspect in the Colorado theatre shooting, for example.  I want desperately for this man to get a fair trial.  From the outside looking in, sure it seems as though this man is guilty without a doubt.  But I still long for the fair trial of this man...for him to receive all the same rights as everyone else in this country would receive.  Know why?  What if your son was wrongfully accused of such a heinous crime?  Wouldn't you want him to have a fair trial?  I want justice done just as much as everyone else, but I want it done properly...lawfully.

I can't even imagine the grief of the families of the victims and the wave of emotions hitting them in this time.  I am sure it would be overwhelming to think that this man should go to prison for the rest of his life or he should face the death penalty, but I also want any conviction this man receives to be upheld by appeals courts.  In my opinion, a quick conviction is worth nothing if it's just going to be overturned.  I would rather sacrifice the time and effort now (even though it can seem like a slow and neverending process) to be sure things are done right with the investigation and prosecution.  Not only to avoid problems in appeals courts, but also to ensure that the process runs correctly in ALL cases.

All that being said, I am fully aware that the justice system doesn't always seem to end in justice...even when things run as they should.  In those situations, we can stand boldly in our faith that God will "not acquit the guilty" (Ephesians 23:7) even if the world does.  I am fully aware that my view is the minority view in this matter, and I do not expect to change anyone's opinion.  My only goal with this blog is to explain my passion for justice...and maybe, just maybe, you won't hate defense attorneys quite so much after hearing my explanation (or at least won't hate me as much when I finally get to be one).

Heavenly Father, my heart breaks for the grieving families in Colorado.  I pray that you will surround them with Your love and comfort.  Lord, I pray that you will walk with the medical staff who continue to work with more victims, the police conducting the investigation, the prosecutors as they build their case against the accused, and the Judge as he (or she) moves this case along in the judicial system.  Father, I pray that the families of the victims find a peace that only You can provide and that you give them patience with the judicial system so that justice can be done.  AMEN!
  Linking up today with::Mommy Huh & This Girl's Live