There is a myth that has been passed down to us, and it is that God is a blesser, but somehow, He likes to make us suffer or hide His blessings from us. The truth is, God wants to bless us more than we want to be blessed. For instance, there was a time when God promised me a blessing, and I knew it was right around the corner. It wasn’t that the blessing wasn’t ready, but I needed to get it together to receive it. And I was blown away by how God confirmed it to me in the most interesting way. As I sat in my car, reminiscing that God is about to bless me soon, I saw a big truck passing by that said, ” It’s about time for your delivery. Where do you want it?” I knew for a fact this was not a coincidence and that God wanted me to know His willingness and readiness to bless me. However, just like we have our way of doing things, God has His way of doing things.
The way God deals with us when it comes to blessings is that there are always requirements or a set of instructions attached to them, not a set of instructions to experience His love, but His blessings.
Let’s consider, for example, a customer who has an issue with a company’s policy, so the customer wants the company to change the business policy because it doesn’t satisfy him. So, that wouldn’t be fair to the company and the other customers who comply with the policy. For example, when we consider God, who is the creator of all things, we cannot expect Him to be governed by our expectations. Who are we to tell Him how He should run things? Another way to look at it is, for example, a store that has an offer on an item. The item is on sale as buy one, get one free, and a customer goes to the front desk and asks for a discount on the item already on sale. This shows that the customer did not even appreciate the help in the first place.
And when it comes to God, and we consider what God could have asked us due to His Son’s sacrifice, we can say that His requirements are nothing but great bargains. When Jesus came to this world, He really lowered the bar for us. He even eliminated it because we don’t get what we deserve, and we get what we don’t deserve. Each person living on the surface of this earth ought to be forever grateful for His love and sacrifice.
Let’s consider some of the things that would make God seem unfair to us. Generally, as Christians, we should be living a life that reflects who we are as godly or Christ-like people, and this is where our integrity, faithfulness, and accountability come into play. We don’t adapt to this new lifestyle only when dealing with men, but primarily when dealing with God. Let’s not forget that we don’t need to be perfect Christians to receive from God. He is such a giver that He will even reward His people just for putting in the effort. For example, have you ever read in the Bible where God said to His people that He would bless them simply because they had listened to His voice or humbled themselves? Now, how much work does it take to listen or to take the right posture before God after stumbling or making mistakes? Yet, that alone can cause Him to pour out His blessings on His people and/or withhold punishment.
Another thing that can make God seem unfair is His timing. God’s timing can make us feel unloved by Him, especially when it seems like everyone you have ever known or met for the first time in your life has gone ahead of you. I know what that can feel like because I’ve been there many times. However, it is only God who may seem delayed yet be right on schedule at the same time. And it is only God who can preserve your life in such a way that you don’t even look or smell like what you’ve been through. I don’t understand and cannot even explain how He does these things!
Lastly, another thing that can make God seem unfair is the way He’s perceived by those who are unwilling to put in the work. Let’s face this simple truth: whenever God requires something from us, it will take His divine grace to help us do it, because we, in our strength, are incapable of doing anything. However, God still requires our willingness and our yes because He will not force us to do anything. For example, there are some people, though imperfect, who are willing to do what God says; these are the ones who may not even be able to do what they’ve been asked correctly, but will at least attempt to, and this is where God’s grace, power, and strength will meet them in their weaknesses. However, some are not even willing to make any effort. God’s instructions to them seem as if they are saying to God that He’s wasting His breath, time, and energy. However, these are the same people who tend to get upset at God when they see those willing to put in the work receive their blessings from God, even though they are as imperfect as they are. The willingness and the attempt to obey God make the difference. When people consider God’s requirements for His blessings as nothing, they get nothing until they are awakened from their slumber.
We must tap into the secrets of God to see His blessings manifest in our lives. His secrets are hidden in the foolishness of His instructions. God doesn’t play hide and seek with us or some difficult game with us; He really means what He says. For example, in Exodus 23:25-27, “Worship the Lord your God and His blessings will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full lifespan. I will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run.” And when we consider all the detrimental ingredients being added to our food nowadays, it’s crazy. The last time I checked at the supermarket, I couldn’t even find a salad dressing that didn’t have either too much sodium, sugar, or at least some unhealthy ingredients in it. I had to learn how to make my own salad dressing. They even put harmful ingredients in babies’ food. We can’t help but wonder if they truly care about our health. Therefore, how foolish must we be to take God at His word that if we worship Him, He will bless our food and water and take away sickness and barrenness from among us, give us a full life span, and scatter our enemies?
To take God at His word is to see your circumstances and dare to say and believe otherwise, which is to consider what God says. I’m not going to pretend that this is an easy thing to do because it isn’t. However, this is exactly where His secrets are, in the foolishness of His word. God may ask us to do things that don’t make sense, but that doesn’t mean He is a senseless God. He knows exactly what He is doing.
I think the best way to know whether God is fair or not is to put the whole thing into perspective. In the same way we like to put things into perspective and weigh our options, we need to consider God’s demands compared to what life offers. And realize that God is not against us after all; in fact, God is more for us than the whole world is. If we really give it careful thought, we will realize that our lives are better off with God than without Him. Therefore, let’s take some time to analyze our options and avoid all kinds of distractions and lies. I can say the truth is, being on a journey with God won’t be easy, and it won’t be perfect, not because God isn’t perfect or is difficult to please, but because we are not perfect and are subject to making mistakes. And based on my journey with God, I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that the ‘me’ without Him is indeed a lie, and my life without Him is nothing but a total disaster. That is why I would rather choose an uneasy path with God’s presence that leads me somewhere than a chaotic path without His presence that leads me nowhere.
God wants to shower you with His blessings; trust Him!
SCRIPTURES
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8
“But glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.” Romans 2:10-11
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