Q. Why, God? Why?
A. [silence]
Viktor Frankl, an Austrian psychiatrist who survived Nazi concentration camps, wrote Man’s Search for Meaning. He said those who survived had to have a future goal, an aim, a purpose. “He who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how.”
But Christians are told not only to endure trials and suffering, but to patiently endure. We are to rejoice in our trials. We are to give thanks in everything.
And all that without (usually) being given a specific reason why.
Moses asked “Why?” “Why have You been so hard on Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight … So if You are going to deal thus with me, please kill me at once … (Numbers 11:11, 15).
The Lord’s didn’t answer “Why?” But the Lord came down and spoke with Moses. And He put His Spirit on 70 elders to share the burden.
Over and over, Job asked “Why?’ The Lord never answered the question. But He did show Job He is the sovereign creator; that He is God, and that Job is not.
It is unlikely the Lord will answer our “Why?” questions, either.
The Bible does tell us a lot about why, however.
God reasons: “that you may know that I am the LORD;” “for My name’s sake;” to keep His oaths, His promises, His covenant; to fulfill the Scriptures.
Human reasons: to prepare us “for an eternal weight of glory;” “so that we grow up into Christ;” “so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you;” because of “His own purpose and grace;” to increase our endurance, which builds character, which results in hope.
Fundamentally, though, we must remember His judgments are unsearchable and His ways are unfathomable.
He is God. We are not.
We must remember that He is sovereign. He is in control. He loves us. God is good.
We must trust Him.
He is unlikely to answer “Why?” So let’s ask other questions. What am I to learn from this? What do You want me to do? How can I honor You through this hard time? Who do You want me to talk to about this? About You?
Let’s ask Him questions He will answer.
Questions for you:
When have you asked “Why?”
Did you get an answer?
What might have been the answers to “What…?” or “How….?”
