Why Lord? Why?
A question I’m certain we’ve asked the Lord a time or two in our lives.
A three letter word our small children relentlessly ask and as parents, we do our best to give them understanding.
As children in the family of God there are those heart cries, those desperate why’s which appear to have fallen on deaf ears, gone unanswered, or possibly delayed indefinitely by our Heavenly Father, buckling us at the knees in surrender for answers,
“Why Lord? Why?”
We drink from the cup of unanswered questions, and long for empathy, clarity and comfort from God to quench our thirst.
Why were our parents, our siblings and a host of loved ones taken too soon from us Lord?
Why did they have to suffer first before the angels escorted them back to You?
Why all the divorces Lord?
The ash heap of pain still smolders.
Why doesn’t the lighthouse of home illuminate the pathway for our prodigals return?
The finances, the dark clouds of the world, the everyday struggles.
“Why Lord? Why?”
Yet, we are not alone in our questions.
A man of God named Job in the Bible had questions also.
Job was prosperous in wealth, in health, and in family.
But in a test of Job’s faith, God allowed great loss in his life; his children, his money, his possessions, his health; now gone.
(Job 1 & 2)
Yet Job didn’t curse God, but he did question his suffering.
Why Lord? Why?
During this season of unanswered questions and loss, all that remained in Job’s life was God.
Author Corrie ten Boom said it best in our loss…
You can never learn that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have.
Job realized the questions he asked, he asked amiss.
Instead of Why Lord? Why?
The question became Who is God?…
When God revealed Himself in his own set of questions…
Where we you when I laid the earth’s foundations?
Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
On what were its footings set,
Or who laid its cornerstone –
While the morning stars sang together
And all the angels shouted for joy?
Who shut up the sea behind doors
When it burst forth from the womb…
Job 38:4-8 NIV
The Almighty Father continues to speak to his servant Job in chapters 38-42.
Job realized in understanding
Who God is,
Who created all things…
Who has us and our circumstances in the palm of his hands…
That a deeper relationship with God awaited Job during the testing of his faith.
Author and Missionary Elisabeth Elliot
Who suffered great pain and sorrow herself is quoted…
Whatever is in the cup that God is offering to me, whether it be pain and sorrow and suffering and grief along with the many more joys, I’m willing to take because I trust Him. Because I know that what God wants for me is the very best.
In the midst of unanswered questions Lord, we can trust you.
You’ve had my best interest already written in your book before the world had taken form.
Jesus himself even prepared and encouraged our lives for pain when he said,
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 NIV
The answers to our whys might not be revealed until we meet our Lord face to face.
Until then…
All God asks of us is to…
To trust…
To have peace…
To take heart…
To find rest in Who He Is…
The One who overcame the world.
Beautiful blog, Lori. And so true. ❤️