There is one word that might be the most oft-used word in the English language. It only has three letters but it might as well have 15. It just might be the most troubling, most forlorn, most desperate word used. The word?
WHY?
A tornado strikes a sleepy town in Anywhere, USA and its destruction involves property and life. The question? Why?
A shooter enters an elementary school and kills innocent children and adults. The question? Why?
A person seems to have life by the tail-career, fortune, fame-but decides to end it all. The question? Why?
A child (or adult) gets cancer, a glioblastoma for example, where they say there is no cure. The question? Why?
Sometimes the answer-although it still hurts-is easy to find. An overdose from a junkie. (The more daunting question is “Why did he/she make that choice?”). The death of 6 million at the hands of an evil madman. We understand somewhat how sin enters the picture or how we reap what we sow. But yes, we still ask, “Why?” That is a normal question.
Within the past few months I have been involved in ministering during a horrific event, and to top it off three people have found out they have a glioblastoma- two of them children. The resulting question? Why? That is especially haunting when it involves children.
Truthfully, only a Sovereign God knows that answer. We can use cliches like “You can’t see the forest for the trees” or “When you get beyond and look back you will see” but while they may be true (to a certain extent), we are best served by leaving the “why?” question up to a sovereign God.
I’m sure the genocide of Hebrew boys was not understood. It led Moses’ mother to put him in a basket in the Nile; Pharaoh’s daughter finding him; Miriam intervening to have his mother care for him, and we can look back and see it set off a chain of events that revolutionized history. In this case, history gives us a pretty good answer to the “Why?” question.
God’s plan is always at work. We may not understand it. We may not see it. Our best approach is “Not my will but Yours be done” and let Him worry about the “Why?” question.
Oh Bill. Such hard times to minister. Praying for you!
Thanks Pam. But I do sense God’s presence and power.
There isn’t any doubt when you look at the pain and suffering, the hate, the evil, a world that does appear to be degrading in many areas where behaviors previously thought as taboo are now encouraged, celebrated, and in some places being taught as expected. WE LIVE IN A FALLEN WORLD. The world in which we live is far from perfect. Death and decay should be the expectation. BUT… THERE IS HOPE!
This life is temporary a mere blip on the timeline of eternity. I have got wrapped more often than I should in thinking that my time on this earth should be a cake walk. Thinking all is going well and then BAM! It doesn’t make it easier while going through it, but knowing that what I truly seek is beyond the boundaries of this fallen earth… What I am just coming to realize is that I can experience the Joy and Peace, the Presence of God in the here and now… Despite my circumstances, despite the pain, despite the evil that surrounds us… God Is With Us.. God has made a life in Us. We just have to let go of our own desires and grab on to what He has already given us.
And your perspective is the one we need to keep in mind Ryan. Despite it all, God is with us and had made His life in us and is in control. I have stopped asking “Why?” and started asking “What now?” “How do you want me to act now Lord?” Thanks for your true and good perspective.
Asking why at times seems to be the only thing you know to say. I try to ask instead, what can I learn from this, and how can I use this to help someone else. Admittedly, the why may come first, but I remind myself that God is in control and right by my side. That allows me to move on from why to what, and how can I use this. God is not off in the distance, He is not distracted, He cares about every detail in our lives, He is in us, and right where we can lean on Him. Hold on to the God, and trust in Him.
I think asking those questions help takes the onus off God and blaming Him to trusting Him to help us move on in faith. You are right about Him not being distracted, etc.
Evil permeates all of human history. We can’t avoid its cruel reality, but we can leave all our whys in God’s hands, and trust in Him alone.
Yes, these past few days have been tough for all of us.
Blessings, Bill!
Unfortunately, sin is real and manifests itself in ugly ways for sure Martha. tough days for sure.
Bless your dear heart. I am praying for you as you minister to such hurting, questioning hearts. I think “why” is the most normal response to suffering. Of course, it is hard to understand, and God surely understands why we need to ask. Even Jesus asked “Why?” from the cross as He felt God-forsaken. I can only imagine the “whys” that must be coming from the heart of Pastor Scruggs in Nashville, and I have wondered how he will muster the courage to stand before his congregation and preach about the love of God when his beautiful 9-year old daughter was shot down in cold blood inside their church school. Only God can reach such places of suffering, and all we can do is pray. I so appreciate your blog, Pastor Bill!
Thank you Cheryl for some powerful words. Like you I simply cannot imagine what it must be like to stand in the pulpit and preach about God’s love after the senseless death of mental patient. And thank you for your kind words about my blog. I am really enjoying your book but am going to wait for another week or so of reading before I post about it. I have gleaned some good stuff from it.