I think we all remember as a child or hearing our child say, "that's not fair." Correct! Life's not fair. It never was and never will be. There is always someone who has it a whole lot worse than we do! But there is always, always, always something to be grateful for! I remember hearing life isn't fair because that is where you go to ride rides and eat cotton candy! Think about this....if life was really fair. Mike Williams said, "If life was really fair we'd get treated the way the we treat others and if life was fair, we'd get paid exactly what we are worth. And in the end, we'd all get exactly what we deserve. So, son, maybe it's better if life isn't fair. Sometimes I'm thankful that life isn't fair."
If we got what we deserve we would have eternal death which would be separation from God. We do not deserve anything. God gives us mercy each morning. Lamentation 3: 23, "They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." God strengthens us and gives us peace when we are anxious. Philippians 4: 7, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." The psalmist tells us in Psalm 103: 10, "he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities."
Life isn't fair but God is! He heals our broken hearts and our hurts. We may not understand why things happen but He is with us! Proverbs 3: 5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." What I do know is that it is not the days at the fair that we grow closer to God, but the days in the valley. Isaiah 40: 29, "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." That is why we must thank Him for the hard times that make us or our loved ones grow. 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18, "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
If we focus on our hard times we miss our opportunity to rejoice with others who have celebrations. I had friends who had children get married and babies born during our families crisis. I may not have reached out but I did not miss the opportunity to send up praises for them. I also would not want to miss the opportunity to pray for my friends who lost loved ones. There is always someone who needs our prayers. I always say it is ok to have a pity party but don't stay there. My rule is a day and then I have to look for the blessings - start moving forward. It is ok to be quiet and alone but don't stay there. And I believe that no matter how much worse other things are going on around me, when my heart is broken, God knows my hurt and cares and comforts me.
Most importantly, God gives us grace! That is His undeserved love and favor poured on us. John 1: 16, "Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given." It is by grace that we have the gift of salvation. Ephesians 2: 8, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." Through God's grace, He will complete the work he began in us.
Life is not fair and never will be. If we are going through tough times, God is bringing good from it. He is refining us and we will see the blessings. As I always say, it goes back to trust. We have to keep saying, "I trust You, God!"