“Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬ ‭CSB‬‬

I remember a pastor told me years ago that God is not fair. I was dumbfounded because, as a child, fairness seemed like the pinnacle of what is right and good. Playing fair — by the established or somehow innately understood rules — was valued on the playground. Indignation and outrage was immediate and loud when someone in authority didn’t treat us kids fairly or enforce fairness amongst us. If Jimmy gets a piece of cake, I must get one too. And it better be exactly the same size. (Never mind that I was willing to let fairness slip when the inequity was in my favor.)

But God never promised fairness. Fairness isn’t love. It’s just fairness. If God were fair, He would have put an end to me long ago. I sin all the time. He will not tolerate sin, so if He were fair… Believe me, we don’t want God to be fair.

Today’s verse mentions the “varied grace of God.” Why is it varied? Because He’s not fair. His grace is not handed out in identical portions to all His children at exactly the same time and in exactly the same ways. Yes, we all receive salvation the same when we accept Jesus’s atoning sacrifice, but beyond that there are daily graces God distributes according to need.

I don’t need strength from God today to withstand the temptation to watch porn, but someone else does. God isn’t fair because He doesn’t meet me with that particular strength today. Thankfully He is ready to provide to someone else though.

I do need help today combatting feelings of despair and irritation. If I pray for His peace and forgiveness when I take out my anger on innocent bystanders, I will receive this grace, but another person not struggling with these problems won’t.

We are all so unique with weaknesses and strengths that are ours alone. And each day brings different opportunities and challenges to everyone. God made me and He made you. He knows each of us better than we know ourselves. And He knows exactly what each day brings. He knows it all. So He isn’t fair. He’s wise enough to know that His grace, while it’s more than enough for everyone, needs to be administered as needed and as requested.

I don’t want a fair God. I want a God who loves me and knows me and knows exactly what I need when I need it. We are so lucky to have such a God.

Dear God,

Thank you so much for not being fair! Thank you for your varied grace, according to my needs. I love that you know me so well, that you know where my struggles lie. Thank you for meeting me in the midst of my badness with your goodness. Teach me how to use the goodness you give me to help someone else who may be struggling where I am.