Why? Why? Why?
Why? We all ask this question from time to time about the smallest of things (Why do I keep losing my keys?) to the biggest of things (Why did God allow my child to die?).
Asking the why questions is a very normal human response since God has given us a rational mind that wants to make sense out of things until they don't make sense. Why do I have a terminal disease? Why isn't God answering my prayers? Why do I suffer chronic pain? Why did my spouse suddenly leave me? Why am I continually experiencing financial loss? Why do I feel so lonely? Why is life so hard? Why do I struggle with depression?
Why? Why? Why?
Often it feels like there is no answer to this question and God is purposely choosing to keep us in the dark for no good reason.
I’ve noticed two things about the why questions from God’s Word (380 whys are recorded):
We have our sincere why questions like “Why do You forget us forever? Why do You forsake us for so long?” (Lam. 5:20) or “Why, O Lord, do You cause us to stray from Your ways and harden our heart from fearing You?” (Isa. 63:17) or “Why do You reject my soul? Why do You hide Your face from me?” (Ps. 88:14) or “Why do You hide Your face and forget our affliction and our oppression?” (Ps. 44:24) or “Why do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?” (Ps. 10:1). There are many more like these.
God has many of His why questions that bring conviction like “Why should any living mortal, or any man, offer complaint in view of his sins?” (Lam. 3:39) or “Why will you die, O house of Israel?” (Ezek. 33:11) or “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Matt. 7:3) or “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46) or “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40).
So what do we learn from our earthly questions and from God’s heavenly perspective?
Our why questions always reveal the finiteness of our being, the limits of our understanding, and the effects of the curse of our sin or the sins of others. We are never promised an answer to every why question and yet, we still long to know because we know our heavenly Father knows and is always working according to His plan and purpose (Eph. 1:11; Phil. 2:13).
God’s why questions always reveal the loftiness of His purposes, the vastness of His understanding, and the greatness of His providence. What we often forget is that God has already answered the biggest why questions for us:
Why do I exist? You and I exist for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31).
Why am I going through this experience? The Lord gives several reasons. So that you will become “conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29), “so that you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing” (Jms 1:2–4), so “the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you” (1 Pet. 5:10), “so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ…obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls” (1 Pet. 1:6–9).
The whys won’t end until the Lord returns to take us home, but until then, take your whys to the Lord and let His why questions keep you accountable and aligned with His will.
And remember one of the greatest whys ever asked was at the cross by our Savior who was willing to be forsaken so we would never be (“About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'" – Matt. 27:46)
Pastor Jeff