He Succors Us in Life’s Unfairness

“Life’s not fair.” If I had a nickel for every time my mom said that growing up, I’d probably have enough money to make life a little more fair. From the injustice of siblings getting the last cookie, to watching someone else get credit for hard work—unfairness has been hanging around like an uninvited guest since childhood. That old phrase didn’t feel satisfying then—and honestly, it still doesn’t now. We each must face trials of one kind or another in this imperfect and fallen mortal world. For some, that means facing a life of economic strife, for others it means surviving political turmoil. Some have the sad lot of living in a war-torn country, others must fight a war every day within their own minds. Some grapple with disability, others with death.

Just this year alone, I’ve watched good friends of mine struggle with debilitating illness, divorce, and uncertainty about their futures. It is easy to feel worthless, hopeless, and utterly alone when trapped in these overwhelmingly unfair circumstances, and it’s often just as difficult to watch those you love have to endure hardship without being able to do anything to help. Life is just so unfair.

This shouldn’t be news to any of us; stories of unfairness have prevailed in scriptural accounts since the beginning of time. Adam and Eve’s son was murdered by his brother. Joseph endured twelve years of servitude after being sold into slavery by his family members. Naomi lost not only her husband, but also both of her sons. Job lost everything. The man afflicted with leprosy, the woman with the issue of blood, the blind man––all victims of entirely unfair circumstances.

Elder Dale G. Renlund, an apostle of the Lord, taught that “Unfairness comes from living with bodies that are imperfect, injured, or diseased. Mortal life is inherently unfair. Some people are born in affluence; others are not. Some have loving parents; others do not. Some live many years; others, few. And on and on and on.” Many things are simply not in our control, as unfair as that fact may be. It is, however, a universal truth that we all live in a fallen and imperfect world with fallen bodies and imperfect natures.

Despite the heartache and uncertainty associated with unfairness, perhaps we too, like the men and women of ancient days, can take comfort in the knowledge that we are not alone in this infuriating unfairness. “Jesus Christ both understands unfairness and has the power to provide a remedy. Nothing compares to the unfairness He endured. It was not fair that He experienced all the pains and afflictions of mankind. It was not fair that He suffered for my sins and mistakes and for yours. But He chose to do so because of His love for us and for Heavenly Father. He understands perfectly what we are experiencing” (Elder Dale G. Renlund).

The Savior of the world, the King of Kings, the Only Begotten of the Father, descended from His throne on high to come into this fallen and imperfect world. He too experienced economic strife, political turmoil, physical injury, and mental distress. He knows what it’s like to lose a loved one, to be hated for no reason, and to feel utterly alone. His mission was, as the prophet Alma taught, to come down and “go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7:11-12, emphasis added).

When times of infuriating unfairness come, when everything good feels far away, when life itself seems completely out of control, our task is to trust in “[He] who is mighty to save” (2 Nephi 31:19). We must remember the character of our Savior: merciful, patient, compassionate, an advocate for justice, one who weeps, and most of all, a Savior with the power to resurrect. He can make dead things come back to life. “The Savior loves to restore what you cannot restore; He loves to heal wounds you cannot heal; He loves to fix what has been irreparably broken; He compensates for any unfairness inflicted on you; and He loves to permanently mend even shattered hearts” (Elder Dale G. Renlund).

So when life hits hard—when the diagnosis comes, the relationship falls apart, or the future feels heavy and uncertain—remember this: unfairness might be part of mortality, but it’s not the end of your story. Jesus Christ, who bore the weight of every injustice ever known, walks beside you still. He knows your hurt. He feels your ache. And He will not leave you comfortless. He knows what it feels like to be overlooked, misunderstood, betrayed, and broken. And He knows how to heal it all. He hasn’t forgotten you. He hasn’t left. And He never will.

The garden was unfair. The cross was unfair. But the empty tomb? That was hope. That was love stronger than death. That was the promise that nothing is too far gone for Him to redeem. He is the Great Restorer of all that’s broken, the Healer of every hidden wound, the Savior that succors us in life’s unfairness. And because of Him, even in the most unfair moments, there is still—always—hope.

Avery Palenske has officially made it through her first semester back at university. Her summer plans include taking ukulele lessons, learning how to make homemade jam, and spending lazy days working her way through her “To Read” list. Beyond everything else, she is excited to have the time to strengthen her relationship with her Savior and her Heavenly Father in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.