Does God have favorites?

Let’s face it.

People have favorites. We all do.

I can honestly admit I was not the favorite daughter in my family. I am not the most beautiful woman in the room. I am not the most gifted vocalist on the stage. I am definitely not the dancer with the most coveted dance moves! I am not the vocal instructor with the most celebrated degrees. And I do not claim to be God’s only favorite caregiver.

However, I do believe God has favorites. He has to for any one of us to believe we are called to any meaningful line of work. I was God’s favorite caregiver-mom called to parent and care for our son, Robert. Go with me here for a moment.

As I lay in bed about 4:00 a.m. this morning, the silent reflection in my heart was one of gratitude for the joy I have in my five children — and now, a sweet grandson as well. I contemplated if I was God’s favorite because who else had he called to walk with these humans? I treasure these people, and they are my favorites! So, I contemplated if I could also be one of God’s favorites? Could God actually have favorites?

When it comes to asking God a question and expecting an immediate reply to be written in stone, I know better. Usually, an answer comes to my heart as I am writing it out in a Word document on my laptop computer or in a deep discussion with my husband, Chris. I think Chris would probably smirk and roll his brown eyes at me if I dared asked him if I was one of God’s favorites.  LOL!  (Yep, I better not ask him.)

So I asked AI.

“That’s a deeply personal and thought-provoking perspective, Juli. Many people wrestle with the idea of whether God has favorites, and interpretations vary. Some believe that God shows favor rather than favoritism—offering blessings, callings, and responsibilities uniquely suited to each person’s journey. Others point to scripture emphasizing that God does not show partiality, such as Acts 10:34: “God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.”

However, the idea of divine favor is often tied to purpose. Many biblical figures—Moses, David, Mary—were chosen for specific roles, much like how you feel called to caregiving. That sense of being entrusted with a sacred responsibility can feel like a form of divine selection, not in exclusion of others, but in alignment with a greater plan.

Your perspective—that being chosen as a caregiver is a sign of God’s favor—adds a powerful emotional depth to your blog post. It speaks to the idea that God entrusts certain people with profound missions, even when they are difficult.”

I may not have the complete answer to this question, and I know AI certainly does not know the heart of God, but I do think it is something to consider. If you or I are called to some profound, hard work, such as caregiving, there must be a sense that we are the only ones who can do it. Otherwise, it would be easy to tap out and deny the care. In that way, I believe we are God’s favorite one to do the hard work.

It is in the quiet places where God whispers (and I listen) that I come to this realization of a calling bigger than myself, and my acceptance of unexpected tasks. I would like to believe I am a woman after God’s own heart — a woman who hears His voice in the wind calling me to do the hard things — and because I am His “favorite” one for a task, I accept that He has chosen me to do it.

I have no gifts other than what He has given. I have no strength other than what He has offered. I have no favoritism other than what He has allowed. But, I am His favorite caregiver, named Juli Anne, who was called to the deep work of caregiving for one human being named Robert Christopher.

I don’t know much, but this I know.

I hope you will find strength in knowing you are God’s favorite human being, named ____[insert your name here]______. He loves you … and He whispers your name, too.

Listening Library: “whisper and the wind” (bodie, Claire Leslie)

https://youtu.be/0MGd_NaXuS8?si=ETs_8XZrzQw3sOka

whisper and the wind

When I'm feeling my feet are tired from running so hard for miles

You are the air I really need

When life is a rollercoaster and I start to lose composure

You're in the drops and in between

And every time I'm stuck in indecision

Losing my vision, You close the distance

And I don't need to see it to believe it

For my whole life, You've been that all I've needed

And I, I've felt You in the fire and the rain

So help me learn to listen when You're speaking

'Cause love is not a secret that You're keeping

And I, I've felt You when walls are caving in

Yeah, You're with me in the whisper and the wind

So many nights I stayed in trying to bear the weight when

All that I want is already done

You bridge the space I'm feeling, when all I can see is ceiling

Every time that I look up

And every time I'm stuck in indecision

Losing my vision, oh You close the distance

No, I don't need to see it to believe it

For my whole life, You've been that all I've needed

And I, I've felt You in the fire and the rain

So help me learn to listen when You're speaking

'Cause love is not a secret that You're keeping

And I, I've felt You when walls are caving in

Yeah, You're with me in the whisper and the—

I don't wanna waste any time just looking for You in the sky

When You're so close I could feel it's Your breath that I'm breathing

No, I don't need to see it to believe it

For my whole life, You've been that all I've needed

And I, I've felt You in the fire and the rain (Yeah)

So help me learn to listen when You're speaking

'Cause love is not a secret that You're keeping

And I, I've felt You when walls are caving in

Yeah, You're with me in the whisper and the wind

Songwriters: Sajan Nauriyal, Wesley Strunk, Bodie Wade Kuljian

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