WHY?

Those three little letters and a question mark pack quite a punch, don’t they? Whether it’s the child who is beginning to assert his or her independence, questioning the instructions of mom or dad, the man or woman who has lost their spouse of 50 years unexpectedly, or something in-between, the question “Why?” often arises when our circumstances don’t make sense to us. Sometimes the question is a matter of curiosity, but more often, it runs much deeper than that. In times of distress or confusion, we feel like we have a right to more information … that someone owes us an explanation. At times, that may be true, but we won’t always get an answer.

Then, another question arises. When life doesn’t make sense, and we don’t get any answers, what will we do … how will we handle that? Will we get angry? Will we withdraw? Or, will we turn to God with a resolve to trust?

Consider Job, who had lost everything while walking faithfully with God. He didn’t know what we know from Job 1—that this was a test of his faithfulness, allowed by God. Maintaining his innocence, Job effectively asked, “Why?”
"I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin? What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high? Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity? Does not he see my ways and number all my steps? (Job 31:1-4 ESV)

The book of Job never tells us that God answered Job’s “Why?” Instead, God questioned Job and his demand for an answer in an incredibly humbling manner (read Job 38-41). In the end, Job took a step back, repented, and confessed his reliance on God’s sovereignty (Job 42:1-6). Even when life didn’t make sense, Job chose to trust God.

Maybe your circumstances are trying, and you are asking “Why?” Maybe you’re not voicing the question, but it’s there, and you’re not getting any answer(s). That’s where faith comes in. It’s easy to say that you trust in God, but now that the trial is here (and the answers are not), what will you do? I hope you resolve to trust God. He may not get you out of the trial, but He will carry you through. Sometimes, like Job, we have to be OK with not knowing “Why?”and trust God’s hand.

In His grip,
Pastor Decker