The Fairness Of Life

“Well, that’s just not fair!” How many times have we heard someone else say these five words? And how many times in life have we spoken them out loud ourselves or just gave them free reign to echo off the confines within our hearts? I know I’ve whispered them before. How about you?  Probably. Because your life just like mine, in fact, just like everyone’s has places of frustration, disappointment and genuine sorrow. So most likely we’ve all entertained or voiced those five words.

There were critical promotions that we were passed over for; there were long-held dreams that were suddenly crushed when we had dared to believe that they were within our extending grasp. Yes, and there were hopes that had been the source of joy or peace that were seemingly dashed in a moment-for the simple truth is; no one gets a pass on difficulty or sorrow. And if you think someone has everything in life then you just aren’t looking close enough or you don’t know them well enough. No one escapes them, no one.

The dictionary defines the word fair as “in accordance with the rules or standards; legitimate”. But that’s not what we mean when we talk about the fairness of life. Usually we think about situations being the same for everyone involved. But how realistic is that thought?  Now Jesus did indeed promise that in this life we would have tribulation, but He never said that our lives would be exactly the same. Each and every earthly life will have its share of trouble, so I should be okay with that…

But what about those whose godly lives are cut short without warning? What about the little children whose entire existence are filled with hunger and sorrow? What about the young men and women who are forced into lives of untold horrors in the sex trade industry? That doesn’t seem fair or equitable to me! What do we do with the injustice, the unfairness that surrounds us or those we care about? What are we to do with the burning questions that surround every example of perceived injustice?

Well, to be honest with you, when Papa whispered for me to write this devotional I really hesitated. Because in my heart of hearts I knew that not only did I not possess any easy clear answer to this…I really don’t think that there is one, for now. So if you were hoping for some kind of lovely answer that would squelch our questions and concerns, tying them up in a neat little package with a bright bow, then you will be disappointed with the rest of this devotional.

For the truth is; when the disappointments are so deep that they grip our hearts and the sorrow is so bottomless that it takes our breath away; there is only Jesus. We can only cast the weight of our sorrow or disappointment upon our loving Savior. In this present life we can only see yesterday and today, for our tomorrows reside in the great unknown. But our Lord was present in every yesterday, He is available in our every today and He securely presides over each and every tomorrow. He alone inhabits the seat that is high and lifted up. He alone holds eternity in His nail scarred hand and He alone is the One who on the final day will surely bring all the books together and administer ultimate justice and complete fairness.

Until then, I will choose to draw close to Him and foster contentment knowing that He is most certainly working out all things for my eventual good. How about you? Today will you choose to trust that His design is overflowing with a higher good for yourself and for those you love? Even though it may be veiled in the obscurity that pain and suffering can bring. Can we believe together that His plan, though we cannot begin to fully grasp all it parts or embrace each of its aspects; is still His good and perfect plan?

Happiness and contentment is often a choice we have to make on a daily, maybe hourly basis. There will always be things that detract from our “happiness meter” but there are also ALWAYS things we can rejoice in…knowing that our Father is actively working on our behalf as we serve, worship and trust in Him can go a long way in turning our hearts from focusing on our sorrow and disappointments to fostering contentment in our lives. No, life doesn’t always seem fair, but no matter how dismal certain parts or seasons of our lives may be we can choose to savor the blessings we are currently experiencing.

Yes, though our hearts are heavy with sorrow and burdens; always, always there remains good, comfort, peace and hope…for He is always with us! And He has vowed never to leave us and surely His abiding presence ushers in good, comfort, peace and hope! Yes, even or especially when the sorrow falls heavy and the joy seems fragile…when the grief threatens to swallow us up and the comfort is fleeting. It is precisely then that His sweet presence is ushered in bringing with it healing for our yesterdays, comfort for today and an enduring hope for all of our remaining tomorrows.

Today, may we each choose to embrace the Apostle Paul’s outlook on life and ministry from II Corinthians 6:10  “…Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing and yet possessing everything” and leave the fairness of life into the capable hands of the only One who has the unobstructed view of times past, of todays being lived out and every single tomorrow, trusting Him to be the administer of fairness and the wise and loving judge of all! And may we resolutely turn our focus from the disappointments of this life to the pervasive joys that will be ours when the time has fully come! May His promise echo in our hearts that one day “He will wipe every tear from [our] eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain…” Revelation 21:4 On that day, most assuredly our hearts will proclaim; “You, Lord do all things well!”