I feel like God gives you what you deserve. Whatever that time

Hear, O seekers of truth, the words of the poet Common: “I feel like God gives you what you deserve. Whatever that time is, you get what you deserve.” These words rise not from idle musings, but from the deep river of faith, patience, and justice. They speak of a divine order that governs all, a rhythm woven into the fabric of existence. In them lies the ancient teaching: though men strive, toil, and hunger for reward, it is not by haste nor greed that blessings come, but by the hand of the Almighty, who gives in His season and measures to each according to their worth.

The ancients often spoke of fate and the will of the gods, yet they did not mean a blind destiny without reason. They believed, as Common proclaims, that the heavens grant each soul what it has sown. To receive what one deserves is to reap the harvest of one’s actions, whether of virtue or of folly. The time may not be when you demand it, nor when you expect it, but when you are ready, and when justice has ripened. This teaching is not of despair, but of hope—for nothing righteous is lost, and no labor done in faith is ever forgotten.

Think of the life of Nelson Mandela, who languished for decades in prison. To many, it seemed injustice had triumphed and his dream of a free South Africa had withered. But Mandela himself held to the belief that there is a divine time for all things. When at last he was freed, and later crowned as the leader of his nation, it was not by chance—it was the unfolding of what he deserved, given in its appointed hour. His story is proof that patience under suffering, when coupled with faith, calls forth a harvest greater than men dare imagine.

But take heed, for this teaching carries both comfort and warning. If your works are selfish, if your heart is cruel, then what you deserve shall return to you in kind. The universe does not lose the accounts of men. Thus the words of Common are also a mirror, showing each of us that what we receive is not random, but the echo of what we have sown into the world. God does not grant blessings to flatter the idle, nor honor to the unworthy. Every crown rests upon a foundation of deeds.

The message is not that you must wait in idleness, but that you must live as one preparing for a sacred harvest. Do not despair when blessings are delayed; they may not yet be your time. Instead, strengthen your hands, purify your heart, and walk faithfully in your calling. In the fullness of time, the doors shall open, and you shall receive what has been kept for you. Just as the farmer does not rage when his seed does not sprout on the first day, so must you trust the unseen hand that governs all growth.

Practical wisdom lies before you: live each day as though the heavens weigh your actions upon a scale. Sow kindness, and kindness shall return. Sow labor, and labor shall bear fruit. Do not envy another’s portion, for each man’s time is his own, ordained by God. Instead, look inward and ask: What harvest am I preparing for myself? If it is bitter, change your sowing. If it is sweet, endure in patience until the season of reaping.

Therefore, let Common’s words be carved in your heart: “You get what you deserve.” Trust the eternal order, but also guard your own path, for you are the craftsman of what you will one day receive. And when your time arrives, accept it not as chance, but as the just reward of your faith, your toil, and your character. Thus shall you live wisely, and thus shall your destiny shine.