Stepping into 2025: Celebrating Faithfulness and Pursuing Justice
As we step into 2025, it feels both surreal and exciting to look back on a year full of achievements and God's faithfulness. Time is flying by, and Christmas is already beginning to feel like a distant memory. But as we look ahead, there is so much to celebrate and anticipate. At our recent PFS staff day, we spent time dreaming and planning what we want 2025 to look like, and where we can focus our energy and time. It’s exciting to consider all that lies ahead.
Reflecting on 2024, we are reminded of the incredible milestones we reached. We worked in all the prisons in Scotland, our letter-writing programme grew, new courses were introduced, and new volunteers joined the team. These achievements stand as a testament to God’s faithfulness and the dedication of everyone involved. It’s a privilege to be part of a team that encounters people so often forgotten or deemed worthless by society. Every person has a story, and being part of their journey is humbling and impactful.
Our work doesn’t end here, though. On our staff day, we recentred around our charity’s foundational passage, Isaiah 42, particularly these verses:
“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching, the islands will put their hope.”
The phrase “until he establishes justice on earth” struck me deeply. God’s justice is not a matter of “if” but “when.” And we are invited—for reasons beyond our understanding—to join Him in this daily pursuit of justice. This isn’t aimless; we move forward with confidence, knowing that justice will come in God’s perfect timing. This hope sustains us and reminds us of Who we are working for and why.
A key question we ask on the Sycamore Tree course is: What actually is justice? It’s a question without easy answers, especially when working with people inside prisons and those outside who have been hurt themselves. Justice is vast and complex. Yet, Isaiah 42 reminds us that God does not break the bruised reed or snuff out the smouldering wick. Instead, in His faithfulness, He brings forth perfect justice.
The concept of a "bruise" carries deep meaning in biblical terms. While it can refer to physical injury, it also signifies spiritual and emotional wounds. The Hebrew word often translated as "bruise" (שׁוּף, shuph) can mean to crush or strike. This goes beyond surface-level hurts to the deeper layers of pain that those we work with face daily. These verses echoed in Matthew 12:20, highlight Christ's compassion and gentleness towards the weak and downtrodden. They remind us that God’s justice is restorative and grounded in His mercy.
As 2025 begins, I find myself asking: How can we serve faithfully? How can we live in the reality of the challenges we face while holding on to the promise of God’s justice being established on earth? These questions are ones I encourage you to sit with as well. Your context may look different, but the call remains the same: to join God in His work of justice and to show His transforming love to those around you. How will you respond to that call this year, whilst also celebrating all that has been?