That’s Not Fair!

Job is my favorite book of the Bible, not because Job struggled so much with what happened to him, but because through his suffering he came to know God in a truer way. It took losing everything he loved, even his health. When I read his words, it makes me think about our limited concept of what is “just.”

When I became a Christian, I believed that God would always “have my back.” And when I went into full-time ministry, I believed that God would always bless me for my willingness to serve him with my life. So imagine my dismay when bad things started to happen to me and my family! I felt betrayed, much as I believe Job did. At first, Job was convinced that God was wrong and that if God would only listen to his reasoning, he would be persuaded to stop persecuting him.

But neither Job nor we understand justice or fairness from God our Father’s point of view, just as my kids did not believe that I was always right. They often accused me of not being just in my decisions, and my glib reply was, “Life is not fair.” There is truth in these words, because the bad stuff that happens in our world and even to us seems unfair, and God can seem “removed” or distant from our cries to understand why. God did answer Job’s cries with love and patience, and eventually restored him to health and well-being after his trials, and I believe God will do the same for us!

Holy Spirit, calm my anxious heart. I choose to rest in you today, and believe that in all things, God is just and fair. Amen.

Throughout This Day: Remind yourself that no matter how good you are at arguing your case with God, he knows best. Trust him today, no matter how much you are hurting inside, and choose to draw closer to him, rather than to back away (my usual response).