At some point along the way, we all feel the sting of pain when we realize that life just isn’t fair. When we are blamed for something we did not do, when someone doesn’t pull their weight at work but takes all the credit and receives the promotion we feel we deserve, or when someone seems to have the perfect marriage yet we constantly struggle, we are quick to feel jilted. We don’t receive recognition even though we did the best, we lose the game even though we are the best player, or we are stuck with a job that we think is below us. Sometimes, injustices can be more serious: some of us must fight our way through life with a disability, others suffer the death of loved ones or lose their entire family, and some go through discrimination and abuse. As humans, we are keen observers of others around us, and as soon as we see ourselves getting the smaller portion, the more difficult road, or the short end of the stick, we point up at our Father in anger and exclaim that this is not fair. We wonder why others seem to sail through life with a conspicuous lack of problems, while we fight and struggle on, feeling the injustice with every step. We become indignant, frustrated, and if we are not careful, embittered. And, for the most part, we are right, life is not fair, but then again, nobody, including God, ever told us that it would be. Quite the opposite is true, as Christ warned us that in this world we would have many trials and tribulations. But, He did much more than simply warn us of the stormy waters ahead. He threw us a life raft and a hope. He extends His helping and loving hand to us so that if we take it, we can have peace in all the unfairness and injustice of the world. Let us not blame Him for the way the world is, but allow Him to help us through it. His help and our peace in Him came at a high price. If anyone is familiar with the injustice and tribulations of the world, it is Christ Himself. The Lord did not simply look down on us, removed from the pain and suffering of the world, but instead came down in the flesh as Christ, to experience the iniquity that we do and more. A perfect man, blameless in all that He did, was whipped, crushed, beaten, mocked, and crucified to save us, fallen and sinful people. He took our place on the cross, suffering our punishment for our crimes and sins. Where we fell short of God’s glory, He filled the gap with His death, healing us with His wounds and making us whole again with His blood. For a perfect man to suffer so much for the sake of sinful people sounds like the greatest injustice of all. We not only have a Lord who knows all too well about unfairness, but overcame it for us. If things were truly fair, God would take no pity on us, and it would have been us on that cross. But He does not punish us according to how we deserve, but instead has given us much more than we deserve. With the peace He has given us through His suffering, we can have courage in the world despite its unfairness.

“I considered and observed on earth the following: The race doesn’t go to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor food to the wise, nor wealth to the smart, nor recognition to the skilled. Instead, timing and circumstances meet them all.” Ecclesiastes 9:11

“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!” John 16:33

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

“He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our offenses.” Psalm 103:10

“It is rare indeed for anyone to die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:7-8

“But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds.” Isaiah 53:5