Life is Not Fair!

Life is not fair. Even the Bible tells us that problems will come – and since it will – just cheer up!

I don’t know about you, but when I am knocked down with difficulties -- the last thing I feel like doing is cheering up -- especially when they come one after another. Usually I just want to cry, throw a tantrum to God, have a pity party, or go to bed.

Sometimes, I have wondered at times, if Paul was on Prozac. No matter how hard the trials were, he was not frantic or worried. He stood strong in his battles and remained faithful to the end.

As we read through his writings he says “rejoice and again I say rejoice.” “I count it all joy when….”

Have you ever looked at Paul's life? I would expect him to say life is not fair. Let’s look at some of his life experiences: he shares he was afflicted in every way but not crushed, perplexed but not despairing, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed, nor did he lose heart.

He consideres the shipwreck, imprisonments, beatings, lashes, stoned, robbed, and a multitude of dangers were all considered a mere "momentary light affliction." Yikes!

Why would he believe those are light afflictions? Because he knew its purpose, he had an eternal perspective. Though our outer man is being beaten up, the inner man is being renewed day by day—growth is happening, strength is happening, inner joy and peace is happening, and a deep intimate relationship is happening. There is so much more then just our day to day problems we face -- and Paul knew this.

He knew that living is all about knowing Jesus intimately and living life with a kingdom perspective. James clearly sums this up in James 1:2-4 (Message) "Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way."

May we count it all joy when tests and challenges come at us!

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