JUSTICE & RENEWAL. Fall 2019 | Page 12

Because of His love, I am free to shout my story all over the earth. I am free to rejoice. I am free to love others, and to find the others who are broken, lost, weary, on the edge, like me, because there is a great, great love that surpasses anything anyone can ever imagine. There is a Father who waits for us with His hand outstretched. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:1-4) **** The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. Eyes by Briana Johnson '20 This painting is a reflection on identity conflicts I faced growing up, when I would spend a lot of time wishing I was more white at moments or more black at others. At one point, for example, I wanted blue eyes, and I asked God why He had given me boring and dull brown eyes instead. But Genesis 1:27 says "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him." So how can God's brown eyes be dull or boring, or any less beautiful than blue ones? He made me in His image. What I see in me is also Him, and He is beautiful. **** In God, our souls are restored. He embraces us when we run home to Him. And when we cling to Him, He leads us in paths of righteousness. These paths are not easy, and the shadow of death creeps on us again and again, but even then, God is watching over us, rod and staff in hand. He comforts us, protects us. Hardships are strong, but so is God’s peace. Having God’s peace doesn’t mean that life’s problems disappear. God’s peace doesn’t equal pleasant tranquility forever. It is knowing that, even as suffering continues, God renews us. He cleanses us of our darkness. He restores us to the reflections of His image, unblemished by sin and free of pain, we were meant to be. On the cross, Jesus Christ restored the whole world. And now, in the present, even through my pain, through the hardships of living in my fallible, imperfect human body, He restores me every single day. There are days when depression returns. Loneliness returns. Insecurity returns. But the Lord is constant in His peace. The Father waits for you. **** The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance toward you, and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26 Karis Ryu is a sophomore concentrating in History. 12 Fall 2019