When Life Isn't Fair
#71
Friend,
“Life isn’t fair, but God is good.”
This was one of the things I remember my mom saying when I was growing up.
And life hasn’t been fair to you.
You don’t deserve that illness.
That seems like too much loss in too short of time for any one person.
I can’t believe they chose that other person instead of you.
It’s not right that you never really knew your dad.
The first part of that sentence is easy for most of us to nod our heads to. It’s the second part that you might struggle with. How can God be good, if my life proves otherwise?
There’s a long answer that some of our best theological minds have attempted to answer, but you don’t want the long answer when your heart is in pain. If you want a long answer, message me- we’ll chat.
One of the things about being your friend is that I know there is a time for witness- a declaration of my perspective on something and a withness- a declaration of my presence alongside you.
Perhaps, you remember the story in the Old Testament of Job. Life wasn’t fair to Job, not only did he lose his family and property all while experiencing physical torment. But that’s not all.
His friends came not to console him, but to convince him. Not to give him a withness, but a witness, “If only you had done this, then…”
They would have been a lot better friends if they had practiced “show up and shut up” (which is my first piece of advice to people when they engage someone who has just experienced a loss).
One way I know God is with me is when God “embodies” with me through others. There is a reason that one description of the church is “the body of Christ.” When we sit with each other in the hospital, send an encouraging card, and bring over a casserole, we are physically representing Jesus for others.
John Wesley the founder of the Methodist movement said these as his final words, and it feels fitting for me to end with them as well,
“Best of all, God is with us.”
Love,
Aaron
P.S. I’d love to be a withness for you. Send me your prayer requests here.