In the words of a certain mom, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” Life is deliciously unpredictable. We journey from earth to eternity by faith, never quite knowing when one particular day might just change everything.

Mordecai had a day like that. In the Old Testament book of Esther, he discovered that the eunuchs of the palace were plotting to murder the reigning King Ahasuerus. Through Mordecai’s vigilance their plan was thwarted and the king’s life was spared. This heroic act was recorded in the royal chronicle and at a later time richly rewarded. Needless to say, this man had won the favor of the king.

Like Mordecai, we are regarded by a King. Christian believers are granted the unsparing favor of the eternal Lord of Lords. Romans 8 illustrates our King’s extravagant affection: “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (vs. 32, NIV) So complete is the favor we enjoy that not only are we generously provisioned, but we are also generously loved: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (vs. 38-39, NIV) We are lavished with divine favor from the very throne of God.

But unlike Mordecai, we did not earn this favor. We did not perform some noble, salvific act that impressed the Almighty and merited His benevolence. We simply received. Grace is given to us freely by faith and in the merit of His goodness. (Ephesians 2:8,9) It’s a marvelous and miraculous thing that man, despite his rather obvious character flaws, enjoys the opulent blessings of Almighty God, but that is how loving our Redeemer is and how vast our redemption.

Yet, when disaster interrupts our well-ordered lives, we can begin to reason against our ‘know-better’ and wonder, “Where is the favor of God in this?” When life slaps us in the face and our cheeks are still pink with the sting of it, do we sometimes quietly wonder, “But…but…what about the favor of the King?”

God’s people are doubtlessly defended by divine Hand, but not kept from all tragedy. This is a truth well understood by Old Testament saints. Faithful Joseph, patient Job, obedient Noah, prayerful Daniel, the devoted Apostles – none of these dear servants of God were beyond disaster’s reach. They each knew suffering and they each knew the favor of God.

Understanding the lives of the saints and the promises of Scripture, we can conclude that the favor of God does not mean a life without trial…perhaps, as we might humanly hope. Rather, it is a life with the confidence of God in all things. It is the consolation that any trial encountered is in some way, for some reason, permitted with a greater good in mind. It is the supernatural enabling to sing in prison and pray in the belly of a whale. It is the assurance that the King who loves you and favors you so, watches over you with ceaseless guard.

Mrs. Gump makes a good point: We ‘never know what we’re gonna get’. What will we do when we get what life gives? When we are shot down hard and fast by the spear throw of hardship, let’s try to overstep the battle in our mind that questions God’s goodness amid ugly circumstance. Instead, let’s choose to persevere in our faith and in the confidence of His goodness. Let’s worship the King saying, “Yes, my Lord, even right now I will praise Your worthy name.” In this, we will come to fully appreciate what the favor of God is: His arms around us in the tumult, shielding us, and making all other earthly affairs conquerable in the light of His love and grace.

“But you, O God, are my king from old; You bring salvation upon the earth.” (Psalm 74:12, NIV)

Liz Miller lives in Daphne with her husband Matt and son, Logan. She looks forward to responding to your thoughts, prayer requests and guest speaker invitations, please write to millerfam3@hotmail.com.