We have all heard children yell, "It's not fair." Usually when something isn't going their way. They aren't getting what they want or are being asked to do some unwanted task.
Most of us have said or thought the same thing when reviewing something in our own lives.
God Didn't Promise a Rose Garden
Nowhere in the Bible does God promise us that life will be easy if we follow him. In Exodus 6:7 God promises And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. Even though they were God's special people, the Israelites suffered through many difficult issues. Some adversities were due to poor decisions they made, while others dealt with social or territorial matters.
Yet There Were Those Times
Life occasionally brings about completely unwarranted hardship. Look at Michal, the daughter of King Saul and wife of David. She fell in love with David as a young girl. Her sister had been promised to David, however Saul changed his mind and gave her to another man. Saul was not interested in the happiness of either of his daughters or David. He was simply trying to secure his own throne.
Saul then promised to give Michal to David. So from the beginning, she is second prize. David enters the marriage with political aspirations in mind, while Michal enters with thoughts of beautiful romantic evenings with the man she loves.
When threatened, David runs from Saul, promising to send for Michal. Instead he takes another wife. After some years, Michal is given to another man, finally living the life of her dreams. Then David decides he wants her back as his wife--one of several. Again, a political move.
To sum up Michal's life:
Deserved Or Not?
Did Michal deserve the way she was treated? Probably not, but God allowed it, the Bible has documented it, and we can learn from it. Have you been treated unfairly in life? Certainly! Everyone has been dealt a low blow at some point. No one gets out of life unscathed.
Lately, our country has been plagued by one weather related disaster after another. People have lost their homes, jobs, and communities. No one could stop the onslaught of attacks by nature. The weather cannot be stopped or altered.
Just recently, a group of people were worshiping on a Sunday morning. Suddenly a man pulled a gun from his pants and shot two members of the congregation. The gunman was met by gun fire from other members, ending the shooting in six seconds. Although many lives were saved, two very godly men lost their lives before the shooter was stopped.
In 2019, doctors diagnosed 11,060 children with cancer. While many will be cured, some will die. Innocent children stricken with a disease that no one should suffer through.
Each day 90 people die in a vehicle accident. Some of no fault of their own.
During the first seven months of 2019, there were 137 violent crimes reported.
None of these incidences were fair. None of these people deserved what happened to them. God did not promise to keep us from all harm. In fact, John 16:33 says, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulations but be of good cheer,; I have overcome the world." He said that as long as we live in this world, we have trouble. Why? Because Satan is still at large. I Peter 5:8 says, Be sober, be vigilant, for your adversary, the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Although God didn't promise to give us a smooth ride, he did promise to go with us. Genesis 33:12 And he said, Let us take our journey, and let go, and I will go before thee.
Deut. 31:8 And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee,; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
Isiah 45:2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:
When life seems unfair, remember that God has a plan and one day we will understand everything that we walked through on this earth. Take comfort in the fact that God promised to be with you every step of the way.
Most of us have said or thought the same thing when reviewing something in our own lives.
- Someone else received the promotion, dashing our hopes and dreams.
- Our children are rebellious or non-compliant, robbing us of the joy of parenthood.
- We were betrayed by a friend, leaving us with feelings of mistrust.
- Our spouse made a decision that will change our lives forever.
God Didn't Promise a Rose Garden
Nowhere in the Bible does God promise us that life will be easy if we follow him. In Exodus 6:7 God promises And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. Even though they were God's special people, the Israelites suffered through many difficult issues. Some adversities were due to poor decisions they made, while others dealt with social or territorial matters.
Yet There Were Those Times
Life occasionally brings about completely unwarranted hardship. Look at Michal, the daughter of King Saul and wife of David. She fell in love with David as a young girl. Her sister had been promised to David, however Saul changed his mind and gave her to another man. Saul was not interested in the happiness of either of his daughters or David. He was simply trying to secure his own throne.
Saul then promised to give Michal to David. So from the beginning, she is second prize. David enters the marriage with political aspirations in mind, while Michal enters with thoughts of beautiful romantic evenings with the man she loves.
When threatened, David runs from Saul, promising to send for Michal. Instead he takes another wife. After some years, Michal is given to another man, finally living the life of her dreams. Then David decides he wants her back as his wife--one of several. Again, a political move.
To sum up Michal's life:
- Her father gave her to David as a second attempt to save his throne.
- Her husband lied to her.
- Her husband was unfaithful to her.
- Her father gave her to another man.
- She was forcefully returned to David, whom she then despised.
- She verbalized a protest to David's behavior.
- She was rejected by David and never mentioned in the Bible again.
Deserved Or Not?
Did Michal deserve the way she was treated? Probably not, but God allowed it, the Bible has documented it, and we can learn from it. Have you been treated unfairly in life? Certainly! Everyone has been dealt a low blow at some point. No one gets out of life unscathed.
Lately, our country has been plagued by one weather related disaster after another. People have lost their homes, jobs, and communities. No one could stop the onslaught of attacks by nature. The weather cannot be stopped or altered.
Just recently, a group of people were worshiping on a Sunday morning. Suddenly a man pulled a gun from his pants and shot two members of the congregation. The gunman was met by gun fire from other members, ending the shooting in six seconds. Although many lives were saved, two very godly men lost their lives before the shooter was stopped.
In 2019, doctors diagnosed 11,060 children with cancer. While many will be cured, some will die. Innocent children stricken with a disease that no one should suffer through.
Each day 90 people die in a vehicle accident. Some of no fault of their own.
During the first seven months of 2019, there were 137 violent crimes reported.
None of these incidences were fair. None of these people deserved what happened to them. God did not promise to keep us from all harm. In fact, John 16:33 says, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulations but be of good cheer,; I have overcome the world." He said that as long as we live in this world, we have trouble. Why? Because Satan is still at large. I Peter 5:8 says, Be sober, be vigilant, for your adversary, the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Although God didn't promise to give us a smooth ride, he did promise to go with us. Genesis 33:12 And he said, Let us take our journey, and let go, and I will go before thee.
Deut. 31:8 And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee,; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
Isiah 45:2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:
When life seems unfair, remember that God has a plan and one day we will understand everything that we walked through on this earth. Take comfort in the fact that God promised to be with you every step of the way.
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