Crime dramas are a popular form of storytelling. There’s a murder or a theft and we cry out for justice. At the end of the story, we usually receive satisfaction—the criminal is caught and pays for his crime. Justice is served.

But in real life, that’s not the way it often works. Many times, the criminal is never found. Too often, the criminals that are found don’t receive a sufficient penalty. There’s rarely restitution for the victim. And we all feel unprotected.

But despite all the crime, violence, and evil, we can still live in hope. God is a righteous judge and will one day right all wrongs. God is a strong protector and can keep us from harm.

Does this mean we’ll never be a victim of evil or crime? No. But, even when we are wronged, we don’t have to cower like a victim. We know the end of God’s story—justice will ultimately be served. And in the meantime, we can trust that He will never leave us to walk these dangerous streets alone.