In a World of Corruption do this….

Corruption is not an abstract idea to me. It has a face. It has a name. It has sat in meetings where justice should have been served and instead I watched it float a long in front of everyone and nothing was done. I have seen laws meant to protect the vulnerable get twisted by those in power. I have stood in rooms where the truth was known and yet the silence was louder than any words spoken.

Unfortunately, though my experience is unique, we all have come face to face with corruption and abuse of power. It’s awful. It’s disheartening. Most of all it’s discouraging. Has anyone seen Epstein’s list? Was JFK murdered by the CIA? Why is the FDA allowing ingredients in our kitchen cabinets that aren’t allowed in Europe? How much is prescription medicine in other countries?

When you encounter this level of darkness, it is tempting to give in to despair. It is easy to believe that corruption is winning. That the people who abuse their power will never be held accountable. That evil will always outpace good. But…. That. Is. Not. Truth.

The Color Pink is Deceiving.

When I think of pink, I think of my favorite color. My bridesmaid dresses were pink. My favorite blanket is pink. Isn’t this shade of pink beautiful?

I keep a sourdough starter. I care for it meticulously. I feed it, I water it, I keep it safe and use clean and sterilized tools while caring for it. When it is healthy it produces beautiful bread. But, if it gets contaminated that pink is not pretty. It is actually dangerous. It means harmful bacteria had taken over. The contamination had spread through the entire jar. It is unsafe. It is unusable. The pink discoloration in a sourdough starter is most often caused by a bacteria called Serratia marcescens. It can make you sick and……

Corruption works the same way. A little compromise here. A little looking the other way there. Soon the entire system is infected. The only solution is to start fresh with what is pure. Throw out the starter. Admit things went askew. Start over again.

In our lives that means guarding our hearts before contamination takes root. It means feeding our souls with truth, with goodness, with light, and refusing to let the evil around us dictate our own integrity. It means admitting you made a mistake when you made one.

Here are 3 verses that have helped me look past the corruption and continue on.

Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Psalm 37:1-3 “Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.”

Romans 12:21 “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

These verses help me get out of bed in the morning. They help me continue to fight. They help me be the best version of myself despite what I have experienced. These verses keep me going.

These words are not empty slogans. They are battle instructions for the soul. When you stand against corruption you will get tired. If you are aware of a corrupt situation you will become exhausted.

What to Do When the System is Rotten(Pink)

Guard Your Starter! Protect your integrity. Stay rooted in Scripture. Surround yourself with people who love truth more than comfort. Do Not Bake with Bad Yeast!! Refuse to compromise your values even if it costs you influence or opportunity.

Evil may seem fast but God is deeper and stronger. His light spreads in ways that corruption cannot stop.

This week I read about Joseph in Egypt in Genesis 50:20 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

• Joseph was betrayed and sold by his brothers.(Can you imagine being sold by a sibling? Talk about family drama!)
• Joseph is as falsely accused by his boss’s wife and imprisoned.

Yet, Joseph was still positioned by God to save nations from famine. This struck me. Joseph was resilient as “all get out!” Wow, how I wish I could be like that.

I have seen enough corruption for a lifetime. I have seen enough evil to know it is ugly. But I have also seen enough of God to know He is not finished. The light will outlast the stench of corruption. The “bread” God is making in our lives will rise. And when it does, the world will taste.

Don’t let your soul turn “pink” with the infection of corruption. Be like Joseph.

This verse is such a powerful reminder that courage isn’t about the absence of trouble, it’s about trusting in a God who wins.