My daily devotional reading recently reminded me that the question, “Why?” is the easiest question to ask and the hardest question to answer. You can read the quote HERE.
We all have asked the questions: Why me? Why now? Why this? And we truly want the answers to those questions, and usually immediately.
When I think of the question, Why?, my thoughts turn to Job. He had every reason to ask every one of those questions. He received the following news:
- his oxen and donkeys were taken away
- all of his servants were murdered, except for the one who escaped and brought Job the news
- a fire came and burned up all of his sheep
- his camels were also taken
- all of his sons and daughters were killed in a windstorm when the house fell on them. He lost all ten children in one fell swoop
If ever someone had the right, or reason, to ask “why?”, it was Job. Yet through all of it, he did not blame God (Job 1:22).
If all of that were not enough, he was struck with sores from the sole of his feet to the crown of his head (see Job 2:7).
As we weave our way through the book of Job and his story, his encounters with friends, his conversation with God, we begin to find a man who was quite comfortable to converse with God.
By the end of the book, Job makes a most astonishing admission:
“I had heard of You [only] by the hearing of the ear, but now my [spiritual] eye sees You.” (Job 42:5, AMPC)
Before his troubles hit, Job had heard of God. He knew about God. He knew the things God had done in the past.
Throughout his troubles, Job knew he had to accept both the good and the bad in his life. He knew God was sovereign and in control.
But when troubles hit, Job knew first hand Who his God was. Job came to experience God for himself. He came to know God was with him in all things.
Many years ago, Chuck Swindoll stated on his radio program:
“God is too kind to do anything cruel …
Too wise to make a mistake …
Too deep to explain Himself.”
Job asked God to instruct him from now on. He repented of his doubt, and of thinking he had all the answers. He came to rely solely upon God.
And so must we.
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in You.” (Psalm 84:11-12, NASB)
Amnesia – a partial or total loss of memory. None of us want to lose our memory. Yet there are those who are wanting to forget, or rewrite, the events of the past. In this post by Pam Ecrement, she looks at the value of remembering. Be sure to read “Do We Have Amnesia?” HERE.
Come, sit a spell. Bring your coffee, your posts, and your thoughts. If you link up, kindly visit those who have drawn up a seat around you.
Photo: by David Tommasino
Today I am joining …
It’s so true that somehow, in the midst of loss and pain and trouble, we learn to know God in ways we couldn’t otherwise.
While I seek to avoid the trouble and pain, the lessons learned prove to be the most precious to me.
It’s a worthy process to learn to trust God more. I *know* he knows better than me, but it is sometimes tricky to distinguish his voice from our own. May his wisdom continue to win us over.
Yes, that is so it. May His wisdom overwhelm us and win us over!
“…of thinking he had all the answers.” Just last night a friend of I talked about our want to be right! But that causes anxiety, discouragement, and disgruntlement. Rationally, peace happens when we surrender control, but gosh not easy!
Surrendering is not easy but the rewards we reap are a blessing. May it come easier with each time we surrender.
And this is the place we all have to come to and then comes true freedom in His love, “He repented of his doubt, and of thinking he had all the answers. He came to rely solely upon God.”
As we surrender and rely on God alone, we come to recognize He knows best for us and all He does is for our good.
Thank you for this reminder, Joanne. I don’t think we should spend a great deal of time asking why, or demanding from God to know “why”, but I also don’t think he is threatened or displeased when we ask. He knows our hearts, and sometimes the hard paths we walk push us to ask the why question. As a loving Father I think he delights when we ask, and is gracious to help us understand. The difference is of course coming to him humbly, not demanding he answer.
You have made a wonderful point, Donna. We is not put off by our questions when we come humbly and sincerely looking for answers. He is patient and gracious with us.
Job’s story is certainly an amazing one. I can’t imagine all he went through but in the end he knew His redeemer lived. Really, for any of us going through something, isn’t that how we want to end up? Knowing He lives and He has redeemed us.
I love your question, Jerralea. I do think in the end we do come to know that He lives, He has redeemed us, and He loves us deeply.
I often wonder how I would hold up under that kind of disaster. I hope I would be able to proclaim that no matter what, I still trust in the goodness of God.
I hope the same, Anita, if I were ever to be in that position. I trust that God would give us what we need to continue to trust Him.
Adversity reveals all the holes in my theology every time. The challenge seems to boil down to believing in God’s good intentions toward us–even when we can’t see a good outcome on the horizon.
That is so true, Michele. The more we come to know God and His character, the more we will come to trust Him.
It’s been a long time since I’ve thought of that passage from Job. You have reminded me of it beautifully at just the right time.
I thank God that His Word spoke to you, Lauren. Praying for you and Chuck.
Amen! God is good. He’s not threatened by our ‘whys’.
As it’s a cry of pain & hurt in the ‘I don’t understand why I have to go through this horrific pain’ kind of way.
Because He’s there to carry us through & does if we allow Him to do so.
I felt this in the deaths of my two children (a year apart) & my late husband’s journey through brain cancer which ended in his death.
I didn’t blame God but I did ask ‘why’ He allowed each death at the time…this questioning is also a part of grief, disbelief that our loved One has passed.
I’ve learnt that my life is in His hands & that He has a purpose for every event whether painful or joyful even if I don’t understand ‘why’ He has allowed those things at the time…& I believe I brought a different perspective as a Clinical Counselor to those going through similar pain & grief.
Blessings,
Jennifer
Your story is an amazing one, Jennifer. Out of your pain and losses, the Lord has used you to help others. May He continue to do so!
Ah, we must trust God, but when? Many claim trust in God only after they have exhausted all other means to resolve whatever situation they find themselves in. Some, proclaim trust in God while they repeatedly take that which they offered in prayer to Him back (often many times) so they can attempt to address it without His help. Few understand that surrender is the ultimate expression of trust. It releases all control to the One who is in full control. Great post ma’am.
Joanne, it’s comforting to know that a closer walk with Jesus often results from life’s hardest trials. It also makes me hold my breath a bit when I wonder what those trials are going to look like for my loved ones, but then I have to remind myself of God’s sovereignty and goodness. Swindoll’s words sum it up so well.