Life Is Unfair: Embracing the Hand You Were Dealt

 Life's unfairness can sting, leaving us feeling like we're navigating a storm with no land in sight. We look at those around us, the people we share our lives with, and wonder if they truly grasp the depth of our struggles. It's a lonely place, this feeling of being unseen, unheard, and misunderstood in the midst of our own silent battles.

Perhaps they have their own burdens, their own "unfair hand," and in their eyes, yours might not seem as heavy, as daunting. But here’s the truth: No matter how good people may have it, no matter what privileges or advantages they were born with, life will eventually deal us all an unfair hand. Ultimately, what happens to us is not as important; as how we react to it is the only thing that matters.

Why do people say "life is unfair"?

People often say "life is unfair" to express frustration over the unpredictability and inequity of life's circumstances. It serves as a reminder that challenges are inevitable, but it also highlights the importance of resilience and adaptability in navigating life's ups and downs.

Turning Life’s Unfairness into Opportunities for Growth

Life's journey, regardless of its starting point, is woven with threads of both triumph and tribulation. Whether you stand at the summit of privilege or climb from the depths of hardship, the inevitable truth remains: challenges will test your spirit and shape your path. 

These challenges often feel like they will last forever, like a torment with no end. But let me remind you of this powerful truth: No torment has to last forever. Generational curses and cycles of pain don’t need to continue indefinitely. They can be broken by understanding the temporary nature of discomfort and the reality of unfair hands.

As you navigate through life's ups and downs, remember that it's okay to acknowledge when things feel unjust or overwhelming. Instead of comparing your struggles to others', focus on how you can grow, learn, and adapt in the face of adversity. It’s the learning, growing and applying truth that is often our ticket out…

 Embracing the hand you were dealt, including any setbacks and platitudes, doesn't mean giving up or accepting defeat; it means finding strength in resilience and courage in adversity. Life may be unfair, but your response to it can be empowering and transformative. Losing is a necessary part of life, as it allows us to appreciate and learn from our wins. Not only that, loss gives you an opportunity to acquire wisdom.

In this very moment, let these words echo in your heart: We are overcomers. Life doesn't have to be locked into death, whether that's the death of dreams, the death of strength, or the death of our ability to function as we wish. Even when we face extreme physical or emotional challenges, when it feels like the very life is being squeezed out of us, there is hope when life seems unbearable.

 Believe in the power of your maker to sustain you, and unfold a plan for you that might pleasantly surprise you. Know that He has a plan for your life beyond all circumstances. Your belief system can be shaped by that truth. Helping you overcome any unfair hand you may be dealt, while cultivating mental health. A strong mind is a powerful weapon in your ability to fly above the mental warfare that desires to drag you through the mud of defeat.

Surviving and Thriving Through Seasons of Death

We’ve all faced moments in life where we've felt like the odds were stacked against us, where the weight of our challenges seemed unbearable. But it's in these moments of darkness all faced seasons where it felt like something within us was dying. Maybe it was a dream, a relationship, or our health. Perhaps you’ve experienced the pain of a broken heart or felt the weight of loneliness as a lonely woman trying to navigate life’s storms alone.

 But what if I told you that these moments are not the end? You’ve survived before, and you will survive again. In fact, what may have seemed like a death could be the beginning of a resurrection—of new strength, new vigor, new insight. Sometimes, God uses the very things we think will destroy us to build something greater within us, even in the midst of sadness and hardship.

How Life’s Unfairness Becomes the Key to Resilience

This unfair hand you’ve been dealt? It’s a key. It’s a key that can open doors to wisdom, to strategy, to patience. It’s a key that teaches you how to flow, how to stop, how to appreciate the "aha" moments and not take them for granted. God partners with us in wisdom, not just in miracles. When we face challenges and unfair situations, it’s easy to want to escape.

 But what if the very thing you want to escape is the one way to your next level? What if it’s God’s way of preparing you, of building something in you so that you can guide others? Just like how our lives can become a roadmap for others, showing them how to navigate their own challenges, your unfair hand can become a tool of empowerment for those around you.

The Power of Wisdom and Insight

The lessons we learn from our struggles are powerful. They are not just for us but can be life-saving for others. Imagine the wisdom you’ve gained being the very thing that keeps someone else from making a rash decision or repeating a harmful cycle. The pain you’ve endured, the unfair hand you’ve been dealt, can become the key that opens doors of understanding for others.

Your experiences, your survival, your victories can be the food that nourishes those around you. They can be the life raft that keeps a family from going over the edge. They can be the wisdom that breaks the cycles of pain and dysfunction that have plagued generations before you.

When you face your trials and refuse to give up, you create a roadmap for those who come after you. God doesn’t just give us wisdom to survive; He gives it so we can thrive and lead others to freedom. Every moment of insight, every strategy developed in the dark times, becomes a beacon for those lost in similar battles.

 Just as others have inspired and guided you through their stories and testimonies, your life can be the example that spurs someone else on to victory. You are not just enduring for yourself; you are paving the way for others to break free from the chains of their past.

Building Systems to Cope With Life's Unfairness

Life’s unfairness often pushes us to seek ways to cope and find balance. One of the most powerful steps you can take is to establish a resilient belief system—this becomes your solid foundation when everything else feels shaky. Start by embracing adversities with a growth mindset. Instead of seeing challenges as setbacks, view them as opportunities to learn and grow from. This shift in perspective helps you develop natural coping mechanisms over time to overcome life's woes.

Cultivating a strong network of social support is key. Surround yourself with people who uplift and encourage you. Whether it’s friends, family, or a community group, having this support provides comfort during difficult times. When these elements—belief, growth, mental health, self-care, and social support—are combined, they form a safety net that helps you navigate the unpredictable twists and turns of life, making it the most important thing to have in times of unfairness.

You Were Born for This

You and I were born for such a time as this. It’s not by accident that you’re facing these challenges now. Perhaps you are the last straw that will break the camel’s back of generational pain and dysfunction, bringing about freedom. You chose not to mimic the mistakes of the past. You decided to lean on God’s wisdom, even when it felt like life was squeezing the very breath out of you. And because of that choice, you will not only survive—you will thrive. Your generations after you will be blessed instead of cursed.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 puts it this way: "This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him."

Takeaways

1. Your unfair hand is not the end. It’s a key, a tool, a path to something greater.
2. God has a plan beyond your circumstances. Trust that He is working all things for your good.
3. Your wisdom and insight are powerful. They can be life-saving for others.
4. You were born for such a time as this.
5. You can be the change, the breakthrough, the blessing for your future generations.

A Memorable Close: The Trophy in Advance

So here’s the final thought: The unfair hand you’ve been dealt is the trophy in advance of your victory. It’s the trophy in advance of your freedom, your healing, and your ability to start life anew for those who will come after you. Choose life. Choose to believe that you are an overcomer, that you were born for this, and that God’s plan for you is good. Your unfair hand is just the beginning of a story that CAN end in triumph.