Move over Marvel. God is the OG Avenger

There’s nothing like a little injustice to turn me from a calm, Jesus-loving woman into a riled-up defender of the innocent. And if the one experiencing that injustice is one of my kids - watch out.

I’m rarely rude, and I can usually stay calm in my communication. But internally? My mind and heart go into overdrive until the situation is resolved.

Heart racing - check.

Texts to my best friends - check.

Constantly checking my email and phone for updates - check.

A recent example: my son was told he didn’t qualify for the National Honor Society based on his GPA. He found out at school and texted me, upset and confused.

After an email and several phone calls, we discovered it was a clerical error—he did qualify. But in the meantime, I was unsettled, stressed, and indignant. He has great grades and is in the top 7% of his class—how could this be? Every GPA I could find in the grade portal showed he met the requirements. Was the district using a measurement I couldn’t see? We’ve had issues with miscommunication before, so I wondered if there was some hidden metric only they had access to.

Even though I knew God could use any outcome for good, my blood pressure was elevated and my patience was thin as I waited for answers. And when I finally learned it was a mistake, I felt both relief and vindication, especially knowing other students affected by the same error would now receive their NHS invitations as well.

Later, it struck me: my desire to protect and defend my son is small compared to God’s desire to protect and defend His children. His love for us is inseparable from His commitment to justice.

Unlike me, He is never anxious or unsettled. He knows the outcome and He holds it in His hands. And while I often feel like it’s up to me to fix what’s wrong, God is the ultimate defender, promising justice for those who are mistreated and threatened within His family.

Look at Psalm 18 and how God responds when David is threatened:

“In my distress I called upon the Lord…He heard my voice…Then the earth reeled and rocked… because He was angry.” (Psalm 18:6–7)

What follows is breathtaking. God doesn’t respond passively, He moves.

He parts the heavens and comes down.

He thunders, sends lightning, and scatters His enemies.

He rebukes the seas and lays the foundations of the world bare.

The imagery of a protective and avenging God is powerful. He is not distant or indifferent. He is active, engaged, and moved on behalf of His people. The Marvel Avengers and all their CGI can’t begin to compare to the power of the living God.

But what’s just as striking as His power is His love.

“He rescued me… because He delighted in me.” (Psalm 18:19)

God doesn’t act out of cold obligation. He rescues out of delight.

Love and justice always go hand in hand. The more we love someone, the more we long to see justice done on their behalf. And since God is the origin of both love and justice, His response is perfect—never overreaching, never lacking. Where our human attempts fall short, His are complete.

And then something incredible happens—His strength flows to us.

“By you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall…He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.” (Psalm 18:29–30)

I love the imagery here. It’s almost superhero-like—running into battle, leaping walls, shielded and strengthened. But this isn’t fiction. This is what it looks like to be empowered by God.

David continues:

“You equipped me with strength for battle…You made those who rise against me sink under me.” (Psalm 18:39)

God not only defends us—He equips us. He strengthens us to stand, to endure, and to overcome. This brings to mind Ephesians 6, where we are called to put on the full armor of God. We are never promised an easy life, but we are promised that we will not face it alone. God gives us everything we need to stand firm against the schemes of the enemy and the darkness of this world.

And how does David end?

With praise.

“The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock…the God who gave me vengeance…who rescued me… delivered me…For this I will praise you, O Lord.” (Psalm 18:46–49)

The Lord gives us vengeance.

The Lord rescues us, exalts us, delivers us.

The Lord gives us salvation and shows us steadfast love.

He is our living Rock - our defender, our protector… the true and better Avenger.

So the next time I feel that familiar surge—the need to defend, to fix, to make things right—I want to remember this: God’s justice is greater than mine. His love is deeper than mine. His power is unlimited so I can rest.

Because the One who delights in me is also the One who defends me.