How Inner Transformation Fuels Social Justice and How Social Justice Deepens Your Faith
Why Spiritual Formation and Social Justice Work Belong Together
FREE Printable 7-Day Prayer Guide Included
The world's wounds are visible and undeniable. Injustice isn't an abstract idea; it is embodied in our neighborhoods, our newsfeeds, and, too often, in our own history.
And yet… in the midst of all of this, there is a deep invitation: to become people whose spiritual life is not only private and personal but public and prophetic.
It’s tempting to think of spiritual formation as something that happens in our quiet corners, in devotionals, in prayer, in moments of reflection. And it’s tempting to think of social justice work as something for the bold few who march and protest.
But Scripture invites us into a much more integrated life.
If our faith is only about personal growth but doesn't move us to love our neighbor in tangible ways, we’re missing something essential.
Over and over, we see that the closer people draw to God, the more they're drawn to the margins. Closeness with God grows awareness, compassion, and holy discontent for the suffering of others.
The prophets were fierce about this.
Isaiah 58 calls out empty religious rituals and says what God desires is to "loose the chains of injustice."
Amos 5 declares God doesn't want noise, He wants "justice to roll on like a river."
And in Matthew 23:23, Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for perfecting their religious checklists while ignoring "justice, mercy, and faithfulness."
So we must ask ourselves:
Is our spiritual life forming us into people of justice and mercy? Or are we settling for a faith that leaves the world unchanged?
But this invitation moves both ways.
Social justice work, too, is a place of profound spiritual formation. When we step into hard spaces, fighting racial injustice, advocating for the poor, challenging broken systems, it reveals things in us.
It stretches our faith.
It confronts our biases.
It deepens our reliance on God.
Social justice work is not a detour from the spiritual life.
It is the spiritual life.
It demands humility, perseverance, and a willingness to be uncomfortable. And discomfort, when held with God, is often the very place where growth takes root.
We learn to pray differently when we're heartbroken over injustice.
We depend on God more deeply when the work is hard, and progress is slow.
We become more compassionate, not in theory, but in practice.
This is the invitation to us now:
To allow the Spirit to shape us in such a way that our faith is alive both in our hearts and in the streets.
Spiritual formation and social justice aren't two separate lanes. They are one sacred, intertwined journey, both shaping us into the likeness of Jesus.
Something to Consider: Where is God inviting you to live a more integrated life, where your personal faith and your passion for social justice move together as one?
Reflect on whether there are areas of comfort you've been clinging to, or places of holy discontent calling you to grow.
Let's Take a Step: This week, choose one small action that aligns your inner life with outer compassion.
If you've been immersed in study or spiritual practices, find a way to serve or advocate for your community.
If you've been immersed in justice work, set aside time to pray, reflect, and root yourself in God's presence.
Let the two nourish each other—this is the sacred, intertwined journey.
→ → → Printable 7-Day Prayer Guide
Coaching can be a sacred space for this kind of work. If this stirred something deeper and you'd like support exploring it, I would love to chat with you! Just visit the link in the post for your free introductory session.
Transformation coach. Soul care companion. Fellow human finding her way, one breath at a time.
With you in the sacred pause,
Brenda Renderos