“If you have questions, ask away. Just be prepared when God answers.”
I found that quote by Pastor Craig Groeschel in a book I recently picked up to read again. Several years ago (actually during COVID in 2020) I read a book that changed my thinking. It was entitled I’ve Seen the End of You by Dr. Lee Warren. Dr. Warren is a neurosurgeon specializing in glioblastomas (herein called glio). With my best friend now in a hospice care center being made “comfortable,” and with the mother of one of young men from the church in hospice from a glio that evolved into a gliosarcoma (a very rare form of cancer), I decided to pick Dr. Warren’s book up and refresh my memory of this almost always fatal cancer. A glio is a fancy word for a particular type of brain cancer that has a “shelf life” of one year to 18 months. Unless new stats have updated the information, no person with a glio has lived past 10 years. The mother has lived a little over two years and my friend was diagnosed in March of 2024. Ironically, I sent a copy to my friend, Dave, shortly after I read it because we were talking about it and he said he had a friend who had been diagnosed with one.
I’m not a doctor; I am a man of faith. I firmly believe God has the power to heal anyone of anything anytime He wants to. That is why Pastor Groeschel’s quote is so pertinent. I am often asked why God doesn’t answer prayer. This past summer a young lady in the church lost her life in a two car accident. I have been asked countless times “Why?” “Why her?” “I’m sorry but I don’t have the answer to that question. No one does.” I’m equally sure many have asked that question about the Charlie Kirk assassination. Why? Why him? Again…sorry but I don’t have that answer. I am not privy to the mind and ways of God. In Isaiah 55:8-9 he writes, “‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord, ‘And my way are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.'”
I hope it doesn’t sound dismissive but I can’t answer the questions I am often asked. “Why?” “How come?” “When?” I don’t know and it would be disingenuous for me to pretend I do. Sometimes God says Yes; sometimes No; and sometimes wait awhile. And it would presumptuous of me to think I know the answers. God may choose to heal my friend or the mother (I pray He does for both), but I’m not privy to His answer. I just need to be ready for whatever and whenever it is.
So true, Bill. There are many things about God I don’t understand and can’t explain. Of course I don’t understand the how wireless Internet connects me to you, how the flick of a switch turns on a light from some power source miles away, or how the wind can bring down a tree. But I know all these unexplainable invisible things exist! Just because I can’t explain how God works or thinks doesn’t negate my trust in Him.
Good thoughts Pam. There are so man unknowns, especially when it comes to God, that we are often speechless. Faith definitely must come into play.
Many times, the “whys” we ask in life simply have no answer, Bill, but we can trust the One who holds them all, no matter what the outcome. I do pray that it is God’s will to heal your friends in the here and now.
Blessings!
How reassuring it is to know the One who holds it all in His hands. Thanks for praying for my friends.
I think the “why” is that we live in a broken world. Listening to a podcast this morning, The prayer Jesus shared as it is recorded in Matthew, specifically 6:10, you will see “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” The podcast shared an interesting thought… Why would Jesus pray for God’s will to be done if it was a given?
I think the answer is that we do live in a broken world that is not operating according to God’s will. I think looking at the news and remembering the lives lost above is enough evidence to that.
I know there may be different thoughts on what I am about to write, but I don’t believe God causes bad things to happen. I also believe God works cooperatively with us as believers through prayer and action for His will to be done on earth.
The pain of losing a loved one is hard. Sometimes almost unbearable. But for a loved one who is a believer in Christ, the end of life on this earth is just the beginning of the paradise all believers will experience. That is God’s will being done, That is our rescue, that is the our answered prayer.
Thanks for your thoughtful answer Ryan. I pray for God’s will to be done. I would do well to make that more than words. His will is going to be fulfilled. And I have no issue with agreeing you. God is not the author of evil or bad so that takes it out of the realm of blaming Him for bad things. I think He is a convenient scapegoat in that. He might “allow” things but not cause them. And I will stick with “your will be done” when it comes to living on earth compared to living in the presence of Jesus.
It is impossible to understand why some things happen the way they do, or why some prayers seem to be answered and some seem to not get answered in the way we hoped and prayed for. The reminder of Isaiah 55, is a good verse to go too in times of uncertainty. It is also good to remind ourselves of how much Our Father does love us, watches over us, promised to never leave us, focus on all of Gods promises. We may not understand all things, but we can trust in God to walk with us through it all. Continued prayers for Gods healing for your friends.
I lean on Isaiah 55 a lot in circumstances like the ones I describe Gail. it keeps me anchored in times of difficulty.
Sometimes I believe we will know the answers to all the questions we have in life, but then it won’t matter anyways.
Like the other day I was asking about a situation I was in: “God, why did it take so long for me to realize this?” His reply? “Because you were so focused on it?”
True Ed. There will come a day all our questions will be answered but then who will care?