How often do you hear, or might you even say: “That’s not fair!”?

Do we really want God to be fair to us? I’m glad God isn’t fair. If He treated me fairly, I would never have a relationship with Him. The truth is, no one would have a relationship with God if He treated us fairly. 

Fairness would mean that God would treat us as we deserve. He sets the standard. His standard is fair. Everyone has the opportunity to live up to His standard. But God knew that we would never be able to attain His standard. Adam and Eve proved that in the Garden of Eden.

Adam and Eve were given the opportunity to live in an environment where they could walk and talk with God. There was no toil in their work. Their every need was met by God. There was no anxiety. They still chose to reject God’s loving command, and gave in when their prideful, fleshly desires were tantalized by Satan. 

They knew the consequences. They still chose to reject God’s protective command. They deserved death. They deserved to be forever separated from God. But God showed mercy. 

They were sent from the Garden, and would experience physical death. Their separation from God also brought spiritual death. 

But God, acting out of mercy, promised Jesus, the offspring spoken of in Genesis 3:15: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

It would have been fair of God to reject Adam and Eve, kill them, and move on with another plan. But God did not do that! He’s much better than fair. His mercy and grace are given to all who will accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. 

God, in His perfect timing, sent Jesus, His One and Only Son, to pay the penalty for sin. Jesus came willingly to do something that wasn’t fair. 

Jesus paying the debt for our sin was not fair. 

Since Jesus extends us mercy and grace, shouldn’t we be people who aren’t looking for fairness, but are looking for opportunities to be forgiving, merciful, and gracious?

I find that most things in this sin-laden world are not fair. 

What situation might you be facing that you are inclined to say “This is not fair.”? You may very well be right. But Godhas something good in it for you, if you will fully look to Him for help. 

Perhaps you will find comfort in this article by Kimberly D. Henderson:

“I would have pulled Joseph out. Out of that pit. Out of that prison. Out of that pain. And I would have cheated nations out of the one God would use to deliver them from famine.

I would have pulled David out. Out of Saul’s spear-throwing presence. Out of the caves he hid away in. Out of the pain of rejection. And I would have cheated Israel out of a God-hearted king.

I would have pulled Esther out. Out of being snatched from her only family. Out of being placed in a position she never asked for. Out of the path of a vicious, power-hungry foe. And I would have cheated a people out of the woman God would use to save their very lives.

And I would have pulled Jesus off. Off of the cross. Off of the road that led to suffering and pain. Off of the path that would mean nakedness and beatings, nails and thorns. And I would have cheated the entire world out of a Savior. Out of salvation. Out of an eternity filled with no more suffering and no more pain.

And oh friend. I want to pull you out. I want to change your path. I want to stop your pain. But right now I know I would be wrong. I would be out of line. I would be cheating you and cheating the world out of so much good. Because God knows. He knows the good this pain will produce.

He knows the beauty the hard challenges will produce in our character. He’s watching over you and keeping you even in the midst of this. And He’s promising you that you can trust Him. Even when it all feels like more than you can bear.

So instead of trying to pull you out, I’m lifting you up. I’m kneeling before the Father and I’m asking Him to give you strength. To give you hope. I’m asking Him to protect you and to move you when the time is right. I’m asking Him to help you stay prayerful and discerning. I’m asking Him how I can best love you and be a help to you. And I’m believing He’s going to use your life in powerful and beautiful ways. Ways that will leave your heart grateful and humbly thankful for this road you’ve been on.” © Kimberly D. Henderson, 2017

Please consider what Ms. Henderson is conveying in her writing. Blessings abound as we walk with God through the trials of this life. God has only good for those who experience unfair treatment.  Those situations truly emphasize the truth of Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

He will safeguard the souls of those who love Him, who are called for His purpose. He deserves to be glorified in our lives, and that is often needed the greatest when we are in hard times.

I’m grateful God wasn’t fair when He sent Jesus to die for my sins. All praise and glory to God for His mercy and grace! Mark 10:45: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

May you endure so that you can experience His lovingkindness in ways you would not have understood had you gotten what was fair.

Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com if you do not have an abiding and enduring relationship with Jesus. It is the only way to experience victory in the unfairness of this world.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2026 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.