There have been many times in my life where I have asked God "Why?" ...Why did he take my dad to heaven when he was only 45? Why did we struggle with infertility? Why did Savannah have to come into the world in such a fragile state? Why did God allow a dear young man we loved to die in a tragic accident? Why will a friend now raise her girls and soon to be born son without their father? Why? Why? Why?"
And then, just recently, it hit me...the only time I was ever asking "why" was when bad things were happening. What about all the good that's happened...what about..."Why did you bless me with such amazing parents? Why have you provided for my family over and over and over again over the years? Why did you call ME to serve you? Why did you save ME? Why did I get to be a mom when other women never get the opportunity? Why? Why? Why?".
It certainly sounds different asking God "why?" over the pleasant things that happen versus the unpleasant. Putting things into perspective with God's blessings challenges me to look at things through the lens of His Word....Matthew 5:45 says, For he makes his sun rise on the evil and the good, and he lets rain fall on the righteous and the unrighteous. We aren't exempt from suffering. I was reminded of this recently and even challenged to feel the suffering...don't shove it into the deep hole of my heart, but to really embrace it and learn from it....to feel it. Now don't get me wrong...I am not sitting around asking for a double portion of suffering...in fact, I'm not sure that compared to most in this world that I even have one iota of an idea what suffering really is....but I am going to try to learn from the suffering that God allows to come my way. When the "whys" become less and the praise becomes more then I will know I have touched the hem of this verse:
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance...Romans 5:3.
I'll be better trained...to go the distance with Christ. Thank God for His amazing grace that puts all things into perspective.
PS...I've heard it said, "When asking God "why me?", challenge yourself to say "Why not me?"
1 comment:
I love this post. This is such an encouragement to me. I, too, so often have asked why only in the bad times. Thank you for reminding me we are missing the big WHY's of life when we don't ask why in the good times! What a precious time to understand the will of God.
I love you and thank you for your encouragement!
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