When life seems unfair

We must recognize that we have all said to ourselves at some point: Why? That’s not fair! How could it happen…? The whys of life confuse us because we are on this side of heaven. However, when we reach our heavenly home, we will see that our afflictions made us understand others better, our tears made us more tender, and our dilemmas brought us closer to the Lord.

For example, a student sustains a fracture when he is thrown out the window of a colliding car. As a result, he is paralyzed from the neck down, destined to live out the next forty years struggling to overcome the challenges of his disability. Sometimes life seems unfair to us. Furthermore, many people have said, “Why? Why does God allow something so cruel? Nowhere in Scripture is God’s justice discussed in greater depth than in the book of Job. Despite his great loss, Job asked a very profound question, one that we all must consider when faced with tragedy.

“What? Shall we receive good from God, and not receive evil? (Job 2:10)

“Is God always just and upright?”

Yes always. Justice is part of your basic nature.

“The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and merciful in all his works.” (Psalms 145:17)

  1. E. Vine explains the term righteous in relation to God by saying, “it refers to the perfect agreement between his nature and his acts, in which he is the standard for all men.”

“What is the problem that evil presents?”

The evil problem has three components:

  1. God is all good.
  2. God is almighty.
  3. The presence of evil is evident in the world.

The problem with the existence of evil is to believe that it is proof that there is no almighty God who is all good. It is argued that a good God would want to eliminate evil and an almighty God would have the power to do so.

“But if he afflicts, he also pities according to the multitude of his mercies.” (Lamentations 3:32)

The problem of evil

But…

  • Sometimes God allows or causes suffering to produce beneficial results. (Deuteronomy 32:39)
  • In his sovereignty, God allows evil and suffering through…
  • The free will of every human being (beginning with the fall in Eden (Genesis 3:6,7)
  • The natural order of things (1 Kings 19:11)
  • In his sovereignty, God allows evil and suffering to…
  • Build our character (Romans 5:3,5)
  • Produce something good (Romans 8:28)
  • Expose sin (Psalm 119:67)

“But the God of all grace, who called us to his eternal glory in Jesus Christ, after you have suffered a little while, he himself perfect, establish, strengthen and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:10)

Causes to believe that God is unjust

Job’s perspective on life was saturated with physical, mental, and emotional pain. (Read the book of Job) Having lost his joy, he considered death to be his best option. Did Job consider God to be just? Job had suffered:

  • Damage to his reputation. His wife and his friends thought that his afflictions were due to his sins.
  • Death of his loved ones. His children died tragically.
  • Destruction of his property. His properties are gone.
  • Deterioration of his body. His body wasted away.
  • Disappointment at his lost dreams. ruined future
  • Separation from your partner. His wife withdrew from him emotionally.

Key verse to memorize

“He is the Rock, whose work is perfect, because all his ways are upright; God of truth, and without any iniquity in him; he is just and upright.” (Deuteronomy 32:4)

Key passage to read and meditate

psalms 103

God’s sovereignty

  • Submit to God’s sovereignty even though you may never understand or find the answer to his suffering. (Isaiah 55:8)
  • Pray to God for discernment to overcome his circumstances. (James 5:13)
  • Seek the perspective of God’s eternal purpose for his present sufferings. (John 9:3)
  • Expect God to change his life through the truth he reveals to you. (Psalms 119:67)
  • Remember that God is almighty and controls all of his circumstances. (John 19:10,11)
  • Open your heart to God by honestly accepting his feelings. (Psalms 55:22)
  • Do not allow bitterness to nest in your heart. (Habakkuk 3:17,18)
  • Spend time studying the scriptures and praying. (Psalms 119:15,16)
  • Affirm your security in God’s love for you. (Lamentations 3:32)
  • God will turn all things for good. (Romans 8:28)
  • Go to Christ who dwells in you asking for his power to obtain victory. (1 Peter 5:10)

Key questions and answers

Question: “If God is completely fair, shouldn’t my life be better?”

Answer: God is completely just. If he paid us according to what we deserve, we would live without hope. (Ezekiel 18:4)

Question: “Why should we suffer in this life?”

Answer: Through the spiritual death of Adam and Eve, all mankind inherited a sinful nature. As a result, we are “spiritually dead” in God’s eyes and need to regain spiritual life. Suffering is a byproduct of both our sins and our sinful nature. (Psalms 51:5)

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)