“It was not you who sent me here, but God.” Genesis 45:8 NIV
“God has the characters, calendar, and circumstances of your story under His control.”
My thoughts today are about times “when life’s unfair.”
Life does not always make sense at the moment. There may often be things occurring that you do not understand right then. A person may be unkind to you without reason; you might be blamed for something that you did not do; you watch an opportunity you wanted be given to someone else. Life will present you with occasions that challenge your trust, situations that test your confidence in the love and fairness of God. That’s when you must be fully convinced of the true character of God.
I remember my Dad telling me this about God: “God will not take anything good away from you, nor allow anyone else to do so, except that He will make room for something better.” I have found that true. Dad’s counsel has become my conviction. I will admit that it did not make the temporary loss or momentary pain easier at the time, but after regathering from my wounded pride or disappointment I have found Dad’s words to be true. I commend his words to you.
“Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. If you need wisdom-if you want to know what God wants you to do-ask Him, and He will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.” James 1:2-5 NLT. Try to figure it out on your own, and you will come up with all the wrong answers. Complain about the unfairness of it all, and see if anything changes. Or, you can put it all in God’s hands and see what He will do!
I have often heard a person in the pain and confusion of a difficult situation say, “That’s not fair!” And they were usually right; it wasn’t. But God is more than fair; God is righteous. Joseph did not deserve his brothers’ jealousy, even hatred, which sold him as a slave in a foreign land. That wasn’t fair. He did nothing to cause the lie that threw him into prison. That wasn’t fair. He did not deserve to be forgotten for two years by a man who swore he would never forget his life being spared. That wasn’t fair. But God had the circumstances and calendar under His control. Read Joseph’s story (Genesis 37-50), and in the narrative you will find a recurring phrase, “But the Lord was with Joseph . .” The question your heart has to answer is this, “Is that enough for you?” Read Isaiah 43:1-2 NLT.
Whatever has happened, however unexplainable the event or unfortunate and unfair the circumstance, God is not absent; He is with you. Where others abandon, God remains. When others betray, God is just. When others accuse, God defends. When others forsake, God is faithful. When others mislead; God is truth. See Romans 3:3-4 NLT.
Joseph’s conclusion? He saw God before, during, and after all that occurred. Let me use Joseph’s own words, “God sent me ahead of you . . so then, it was God and not you who sent me here, but God! . . you intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of lives.” Genesis 45:7-8/50:20 NIV. Intended for good! Any given moment cannot write the full story of God’s care, plan, and provision for you.
My prayer for you today is that you trust in God’s character and timing in everything.