Exploring God’s Favor
My mother passed away in 2017. She was one of the most faithful individuals I’ve ever known. She always loved Jesus, but her faith intensified when God brought her through a bout of brain cancer in 1980. She shared her story with many, and she always gave God full credit for her healing.
If I had good news to share with my mom, it was often met with a “Praise the Lord!” As a teen, I admit I often rolled my eyes at such responses, but I did love how present her faith was in her life. She was quick to pray or speak Scripture over me throughout our relationship.
My mother believed in favor, and she saw no reason it shouldn’t be directed at her. She would ask God to turn red lights green and to open up a parking spot near the door for her. She also fully expected God to apply his favor for her to her beloved Dallas Cowboys and assist them in winning. (This was most memorable in the mid-90s and has been less effective more recently!)
What Does the Bible Say about Favor?
There are some words and concepts that we as Christ followers essentially make up. Favor is not one of them. It is mentioned in the Bible numerous times. Here are a few examples:
“Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.” (Ps. 5:12 NIV)
“You, Lord, showed favor to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.” (Ps. 85:1 NIV)
“He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and the oppressed.” (Prov. 3:34 NIV)
“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52 NIV)
Clearly God bestows favor on his people. But how? And why? Why do some receive it and others don’t? Does God really favor a football team or care if we get a good parking spot? How does it really work?
God’s Favor Defined
According to writer Mel Walker from Christianity.com, “The ‘favor of God’ can be described as a divine kindness, or an act of true compassion on the part of God Himself toward needy and undeserving human recipients.”
Favor is similar to God’s grace. It is undeserved goodness, compassion, or kindness. In order to understand his favor, I believe we must first have a strong foundation in the innate goodness of God.
If you are in a place where you believe God exists, but you do not trust his goodness, it is highly likely you could have an unhealthy view of his favor. Some believe God is like a great puppet master in the sky giving good things to some at random and withholding his goodness from others.
While sin and the reality of hardship in our world results in hard circumstances for all of us, I do not believe in the view of God as a puppet master. By his grace, he has given me a grounding in his inherent goodness. I believe that, while he does allow hard circumstances to occur—whether the result of poor choices or sin or natural occurrences in which he chooses not to intervene—he is ultimately for us and for our good.
The familiar verse helps ground us in this conclusion: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28 NIV).
God’s Favor Explored
I have some disappointing news: I don’t know the answers to all the questions I asked above. I do not know if God cares about which football team wins or whether we get a good parking spot.
However, I do know this; we can and should humbly ask for his favor. And while God is not a genie who will answer our every whim, he does want us to ask. We should ask boldly and often, and we should trust in his goodness and care for us when the favor isn’t granted in the way we’d hoped. We can and should trust that his favor will come and that he wants to grant it.
I also know that I miss some of the favor he bestows on me. How sad that must be to his heart when I do. Even when we are walking through the most excruciating trials, there are moments of his favor and goodness to be found. It could be through a meal someone brings or through the encouragement of a friend. I believe these are all examples of his favor.
The ways of God will always be somewhat of a mystery. We will never know this side of heaven why he chooses to intervene in some situations but not others. We can only trust in his goodness and his sovereignty and in the fact that he is for us and for our good. We can humbly ask for more of his favor and believe that it will come. When it does, may we be quick to express our gratitude and give him all of the glory and credit.
is a Jesus follower, wife, mom of three, finance director, and lover of sarcasm and deep conversations with friends. She also loves camping, rafting, skiing, sewing, and hosting others in her home.
Photograph © Priscilla Du Preez, used with permission
