Life Isn’t Fair!
So, How Should We React?
Based on Psalm 73
Life isn’t fair. Wealthy, successful people may appear to flaunt their prosperity while we struggle to make ends meet. We may be surrounded by seemingly healthy, happy people while dealing with a health crisis in our family.
During these times, we are likely to question God’s purposes and His love for us. If you’ve felt this way, you are not alone. A man named Asaph in the Bible did, too.
He was a singer in David's court and sang songs over the ark of the Lord. He was a prominent Levite, a big shot in his day, and he was surrounded by riches.
In verse 1, he claims to know God’s benevolence.
Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
But you would be misled if you think the entire subject of his Psalm is praise. For you see, he has a confession to make in the next verse.
But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
Most of us can think of times we have almost lost our direction in difficult situations. His reason is telling of our carnal nature.
For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked (Verse 3).
Corruption in the house of David? Yes! Where there is wealth and power, there is potential for perversion. We read about David’s affair with Bathsheba and his attempt to cover up his sin in 1 Kings 1-2. David sinned mightily, yet God goes on to call him a man after His own heart.
But back to Asaph and Psalm 73, verses 4-5. He assumes that others are healthy, strong, and free from any problems. Isn’t that exactly what we do when we play the comparison game? We think everyone but us is living the good life while ours is riddled with problems. Then, when we take our eyes off God and focus on others, we can become jealous, angry, and even feel like our faith is not worth the effort. Can you relate? I can!
My experience doesn’t involve wicked people, but it does involve jealousy. You see, when I was a young wife and mother, my husband was being treated aggressively for Stage IV non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. One summer, every day, five days a week, was spent traveling to Boise for radiation therapy. The round-trip journey and treatments took at least three hours. My spouse had no energy, so grocery shopping and errands were out of the question. It wasn’t my favorite summer.
Yet, people continued to share their vacation plans with me. Some were going camping, while others were heading to the beach. One friend boasted she was taking a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Europe. She included all the sites she would be seeing, and I was annoyed. Their words were like prideful daggers aimed at me.
I cried out my complaints to God. “Haven’t I served you faithfully? And for what? For others to have healthy, happy lives while our family lives from one cancer treatment to the next? I’d be happy to head to the mountain just for a day. I’d love to feel the sun on my skin and smell the scent of pine trees wafting through the air.”
I have heard that comparison is the thief of joy. I agree. It is easy to think we are alone in our suffering, but we aren’t. God clearly reminded me of this fact on a Thursday at the tumor clinic. That was the day children got their treatments. The basement was filled with pale-faced youngsters whose eyes were sunken and whose heads were bald. They looked at me with vacant stares, and my heart broke for them and their families.
I had no right to complain. God, in his infinite wisdom, allows suffering, even the illnesses of children. I have never believed God caused suffering. It is part of our fallen world. But I do believe He allows trials for His greater purposes.
Did I trust His sovereignty? And His timing?
Asaph says in verse 16: When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply.
Me too, Asaph!
Then he states in the next verse: until I entered the sanctuary of God.
Now, his context is that the wicked will meet their just punishment someday. But my takeaway is a bit different. When we enter the sanctuary of God, we are reminded of His love and goodness, His eternal perspective.
Like Asaph, I saw that my complaints were senseless and ignorant. God is always with me, and He is with the children struggling with cancer as well. When I trust in Him, He guides me and holds me by my right hand. Someday, He will take me to glory. My goal in life is not to complain but to encourage others with the message of salvation.
My question should not be, “Why is life not fair?” but from verse 25, Whom have I in heaven but you?
There is nothing I need or desire more for myself and others. God is my refuge, so I will tell of His wonderful deeds.
What’s the story you have to share?
Life as a Christian may not always be easy, but our overcoming stories can be a witness to God’s goodness, even when life isn’t fair.
More on this subject in Pines in the Wasteland: A Story of Hope.
It is definitely still coming soon … ish!
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