Devotional: Finding Faith When Life Seems Unfair (Psalm 10:1)

When you struggle while unbelievers prosper

Have you ever looked at your life and wondered, “God, why am I struggling when I’m trying to follow You, while people who don’t even acknowledge You seem to have everything going their way?”

Maybe you’ve watched someone who cuts corners get the promotion you worked honestly for. Perhaps you’re carefully budgeting each month, while a friend who spends recklessly seems to always have more than enough. Or you might be waiting faithfully for a prayer to be answered while someone who rarely prays appears to get blessings handed to them effortlessly.

Often, these feelings are felt the most deeply by someone who hasn’t lost their faith. They completely trust and believe that God is good and just, but they just can’t understand why following Him sometimes seems to come with hardship, while people who ignore Him, seemingly get rewarded.

Today, we’ll explore this personal struggle, how to bring our honest questions to God, and how to keep the faith when life feels deeply unfair.

Psalm 10:1

“Lord, why do you stand far off? Why do you hide in times of trouble?”

Breaking Down the Verse

Psalm 10 was written during a time when arrogant, self-centered people lived very comfortable lives while those who tried to follow God didn’t have it as easy! Throughout the psalm, we learn about people who boast about their desires, admire the greedy, and curse the Lord – yet they seem to prosper without consequences.

When the psalmist asks, “Why do you stand far off? Why do you hide?“, you can almost feel his deep disappointment. It’s the question of someone who has chosen to follow God faithfully but feels alone in their struggle while watching ungodly people enjoy comfort and success. The pslamist seems to wonder: Does God see? Does He care? If He does, why doesn’t He act?

As the psalm continues, we see a shift in the writer – he remembers that that God does see, does care, and will act in His time. The apparent “success” of the wicked is all temporary, while God’s care for the faithful is eternal. This doesn’t immediately answer all the “why” questions, but it provides a foundation for continued trust.

Faith in Action

Like the psalmist, don’t pretend you’re fine when you’re hurting; bring your real pain to God. Tell Him exactly how you feel when you see others prospering while you struggle despite your faithfulness.
While it’s natural to notice others’ prosperity, remember that appearances can be deceiving. The “successful” person you envy may be fighting battles you know nothing about.
Ask God to help you see prosperity through His eyes. Material wealth and outward success often hide spiritual poverty, while faith through struggle builds lasting character and peace.
Like reading only the middle chapters of a book, seeing current prosperity or struggle doesn’t reveal the end of the story. God’s timeline is longer than our limited view of the present.

Journaling Prompts

Describe a specific situation where you’ve followed God faithfully but faced struggles, while someone who doesn’t follow God seems to easily get ahead. How has this affected your faith?
Read the full Psalm 10. Which verses most closely express your own feelings about this unfair situation? Why do these words resonate with you?
What does “prosperity” mean to you? How do you think God’s definition of blessing might be different from the world’s definition?
What spiritual strengths or character qualities have you developed through your struggles that you might not have gained otherwise?
If you could ask God one honest question about why the unfaithful sometimes prosper while the faithful struggle, what would it be?
What helps you keep believing in God’s goodness even when life seems unfair? List specific truths, memories, or promises that anchor your faith.
Think about someone you consider “blessed” despite their lack of faith. What do you think their life looks like from God’s perspective? What do you think they could be missing that you have?

Affirmation

God’s definition of success and blessing goes deeper than what I can see.

Prayer for the Day

Heavenly Father,
I come to You with my honest questions and hurting heart. Sometimes it’s so hard to see people who ignore You getting everything they want, while I try to follow You faithfully and face one struggle after another. In those moments, You feel far away, and I wonder if You see me at all.
Help me to trust that You haven’t forgotten me. Give me eyes to see the deeper blessings You’ve given me that money can’t buy and success can’t deliver. Show me the ways You’re growing my character, faith, and relationship with You through these challenges.
Guard my heart from bitterness and envy when I look at others who seem to have it easier. Remind me that I don’t see their full story, just as they don’t see mine. When I’m tempted to question Your goodness, bring to mind the ways You’ve been faithful to me in the past.
Lord, I choose to believe that Your silence doesn’t mean absence, and that Your timeline is perfect even when I don’t understand it. Help me to find joy in following You, regardless of my circumstances.
Amen.

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