Unfair: Trusting God When Life Isn't Fair

Sooner or later, every believer faces situations that feel unjust. This article explores what Scripture says about responding to unfairness – with grace instead of bitterness, and with trust in the God who judges justly.

Life Will Not Always Be Fair

In this life, there will always be situations that tempt us to take offence – misunderstandings occur and things don't go the way we would like, yet there is always someone worse off than ourselves. What is my reaction to unfair situations: do I complain, grumble and get bitter, adopting a victim mentality, or do I – with the attitude of a victor – rejoice that something good will result, for God has counted me worthy to suffer on His behalf? (Gen 50:20; Acts 5:40-41, 16:22-38; Rom 8:28; 1 Pet 2:20).

Life will not always be fair – but God is always just; trust Him with the outcome

When they were unfairly treated, the Israelites took their eyes off the dream of liberation and became discouraged (Ex 4:29-6:9). Instead, we should maintain a positive attitude, for God sees and can work in the situation of those being treated unfairly by others – for example, when Laban tricked Jacob (Gen 31:4-13).

Jesus' Response to Injustice

Jesus said: don't demand your rights, retaliate or treat the offending party as you have been treated. Instead, meet your responsibilities, which include showing mercy and justice, praying for those who persecute you and treat you unfairly, and doing to them what we wish they would do to us – thus blessing them and overcoming evil with good (Mic 6:8; Mt 5:38-48; Lk 6:27-36; Rom 12:21; 1 Pet 3:9).

Our example: Jesus entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly – 1 Peter 2:23

The Christian life does not exempt believers from trials, grossly unfair situations and persecutions – even Jesus had to suffer before He entered His glory (Lk 24:26; 2 Tim 3:12). For Jesus the cross was unfair, but it was the only way salvation could be gained for us; in love He looked beyond the immediate difficulties to the future blessing and reward that would be His (Heb 12:2-3). Similarly, our challenging life situations may seem unfair too, yet they may be the very path into what God has in store for us. There is often the temptation to give in to sin to compensate for the hurts we are experiencing. Instead, we need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

When God's People Were Wronged

Joseph was betrayed by his own brothers and sold into slavery – a wrong committed by the very family who should have protected him. Yet in time he could say to those same brothers that what they intended for evil, God intended for good, to bring about the preservation of many lives (Gen 37:23-28, 50:20).

God sees every wrong – and in His time He vindicates those who leave justice with Him

Hannah was misjudged as a drunkard by Eli while she poured out her heart in prayer over years of barrenness and provocation. Rather than reacting defensively, she answered gently and left her case with God – and He gave her the desire of her heart (1 Sam 1:12-17).

Naboth refused to surrender his family inheritance to Ahab, honouring what God had entrusted to his fathers. For his faithfulness he was falsely accused and killed – yet God saw the injustice, sent Elijah to confront it, and held the guilty to account (1 Kgs 21:1-19).

Living Above Unfairness

When treated unfairly, maintain a clear conscience, keep a right attitude toward those responsible, and relate to the offender with respect and love. As God allows hard times to test our persistence and develop our character, let such an event be a catalyst to operate in the opposite spirit – to be thankful and to grow in the fruit of the Spirit by using this opportunity to be an overcomer (Gal 5:22-23). When his men considered stoning him, David “encouraged himself in the Lord” (1 Sam 30:6).

God has different pathways and purifying processes for outworking His purposes for each believer, so don't envy the ministry of others who seem to be having it easy; your responsibility is to obediently walk the path He has for you (Jn 21:22-23; 2 Cor 10:12). He calls us to follow Him, gladly take His challenge and co-operate with Him (Mt 4:19, 11:29-30).

Don't envy another's pathway – obediently walk the one God has given you – John 21:22

Often the righteous suffer just as much as the wicked, and the wicked also prosper; however, in the final analysis the true perspective will emerge (Job 21:7-16; Ps 73:1-28; Eccl 8:14; Mt 5:45). We live in a fallen and unfair world that focuses on self, yet when viewed from God's perspective we are sinners who deserve eternal separation from Him – and yet, through Jesus, we can have eternal life with Him, free from the suffering that those who don't receive Him as Saviour will experience. Our present troubles are light and momentary compared with the eternal glory they are achieving for us (2 Cor 4:17-18).

Although we are often biased and relate differently to some people because of their race, gender, appearance, ability or what we have in common, the Bible instructs us to treat all people fairly and with integrity – just as God does – not taking advantage of anyone (Ps 140:12; Prov 14:31; Isa 10:1-2; Jas 1:27, 2:1-9).

In the parable of the workers in the vineyard, some considered they were unfairly treated, thinking they should have received more than they had agreed to (Mt 20:1-16). Don't take offence and fall away because of Jesus or His teaching (Mt 11:6, 13:21).

Steps to Take When Life Is Unfair

When life is unfair, the first step is to acknowledge the hurt honestly before God, rather than hiding or denying it (Ps 62:8). From that place of honesty, refuse bitterness – releasing the offence to God instead of feeding resentment (Eph 4:31-32; Heb 12:15). Then keep doing right and meeting your responsibilities, even when no one seems to notice (Gal 6:9), leave justice with God rather than seeking revenge in your own strength (Rom 12:19), and keep an eternal perspective, looking to the reward God has promised (Heb 11:26).

Putting It into Practice

These steps do not minimise the wrong done to us; they place the wrong in the hands of the only One able to judge it perfectly. Bitterness punishes the person who carries it far more than the person who caused it, so releasing the offence is not a denial of justice – it is trusting that justice belongs to God (Rom 12:19). Choosing forgiveness does not excuse the offender – it frees us from the prison of bitterness, for God in Christ has forgiven us and calls us to do the same (Eph 4:32; Col 3:13). In practice this means taking the hurt to God honestly in prayer before it hardens into resentment, choosing each day not to replay the offence or rehearse what we would say to the offender, and deliberately continuing in the responsibilities God has given us – even when our faithfulness goes unnoticed (Gal 6:9). Small, repeated choices to forgive, to bless and to keep serving are how the opposite spirit is lived out over time, not a single dramatic decision (Mt 5:44; Rom 12:21).

It also helps to share the burden with trusted, mature believers who can pray with us and speak perspective into our pain, rather than isolating ourselves with the hurt (Jas 5:16). Isolation gives the wound room to grow; honest conversation with wise friends – and with God Himself (Ps 62:8) – keeps it from going septic and helps us return good for evil while our emotions are still raw. Finally, we fix our eyes on the eternal perspective: the unjust seasons of life are producing for us a far greater and lasting weight of glory, and the reward God has promised far outweighs anything unfairness has taken from us (2 Cor 4:17-18; Heb 11:26).

Isolation lets the wound grow – share the burden and keep your eyes on the eternal reward

Reflection and Application

Am I holding on to bitterness over an unfair situation – and have I released it to God?
Do I keep doing right when my faithfulness goes unnoticed or unthanked?
What hard situation has God allowed in my life to develop character rather than comfort?
Do I treat all people fairly, without bias or favouritism?