Favor is a word that often gets thrown around in conversations about blessings, grace, and providence. However, when we talk about God’s favor, it operates on a completely different level from the human understanding of favor. Human favor is often rooted in sympathy or merit—a compassionate impulse to help someone in need or an admiration of someone’s qualities or accomplishments. But God’s favor isn’t born out of sympathy or performance. It is rooted in His divine sovereignty, pre-selection, and promise.
Let’s unpack this profound truth.
God’s Favor Is Based on Pre-selection, Not Human Merit
In the natural world, favor is earned or elicited. You might feel compelled to help someone because they seem deserving or pitiful. But God’s favor is not reactive—it is proactive and preordained. Long before circumstances align in the natural realm, God has already chosen to favor you. This concept of pre-selection is evident throughout the Bible.
Consider Ephesians 1:4-6, which says:
“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”
God’s favor flows from His eternal plan. It is not based on how you look, how talented you are, or what you have achieved. His favor is tied to His purpose for your life.
God Subdues the Surroundings, Not the Person
Here’s where the true beauty of God’s favor becomes evident. When God decides to show you favor, He doesn’t elevate you by making you better or stronger in the moment. Instead, He subdues your surroundings. He rearranges the environment so that everything aligns with His purpose for your life.
Take the story of Joseph, for example. Joseph was in prison, an unlikely place for favor to manifest. But God didn’t need to change Joseph’s circumstances directly to elevate him. Instead, He disrupted Pharaoh’s peace with a dream and silenced the wisdom of Pharaoh’s counselors. What should have been an ordinary moment—a dream interpretation—became extraordinary because God created a vacuum that only Joseph could fill.
When Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, the explanation wasn’t dazzling or revolutionary. Yet, it was exactly what was needed in that moment. God’s favor positioned Joseph, not because of any new skill he gained but because God had prepared the environment for Joseph to shine.
The Effortless Nature of God’s Favor
This is where we often struggle. As humans, we equate success with effort. We believe that if we want something, we must work tirelessly for it, perfecting our skills and climbing the ladder step by step. But God’s favor doesn’t work like that. When His favor comes upon you, what you already have—no matter how simple—becomes enough.
Think about David, a shepherd boy with no military training. When Goliath stood before him, David didn’t win because he was the most skilled warrior. He won because God had already subdued the situation. A giant, armed to the teeth, fell to a simple stone from the hand of a boy. The circumstances were divinely manipulated so that David’s small action carried enormous impact.
This is what Zechariah 4:6 reminds us:
“‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”
God’s favor doesn’t depend on your ability. It depends on His Spirit orchestrating everything around you.
Lessons from God’s Favor
- Stop Striving in Your Own Strength
When you understand that God’s favor is not earned but given, you can rest in His promises. You don’t have to sweat or strive for recognition. God’s timing is perfect, and when it is time, He will align everything for your elevation. - Trust God to Prepare the Environment
Like Joseph, David, or Esther, trust that God is working behind the scenes. You may feel like you’re in a waiting season, but know that God is subduing the surroundings to create the perfect opportunity for you to step into your destiny. - Be Faithful in the Small Things
Joseph was faithful in prison. David was faithful in the fields. Esther was faithful in her obedience. Your faithfulness in the little things today prepares you to walk into the favor God has planned for you. - Celebrate the Simplicity of God’s Ways
God often uses the simplest things to showcase His glory. A boy’s lunch fed five thousand (John 6). A shepherd’s sling defeated a giant (1 Samuel 17). A prisoner’s interpretation of a dream changed the fate of a nation (Genesis 41). Don’t underestimate the small things God has placed in your hands.
God’s Favor Transcends Natural Understanding
God’s favor is a divine mystery. It doesn’t fit into the human framework of logic or fairness. When His favor is upon you, even the most capable people around you can falter, and you—seemingly the least likely candidate—will rise. It is not about you being more; it is about God making everything else less. He brings the mighty low and lifts the humble high, ensuring that His glory is displayed through your life.
So, stop worrying about how things will happen. Rest in the knowledge that God’s favor doesn’t come from human sympathy or effort. It comes from His divine promise, His pre-selection, and His perfect timing. When the time is right, He will create the perfect environment for you to walk into your destiny.
Trust Him, for His ways are higher than ours, and His favor is nothing short of miraculous.
