Why?

I remember when my children went through the stage of asking “Why?” about everything it seemed. It was always very tempting to answer: “Because I said so”.  I think “Why?” often offers a teachable moment. The word “Why” also is asking for clarity and understanding. There are times when it’s asked in multiple succession that there is obviously a lack of trust. There are simply things in this life that have been decided and I can’t change them. There are laws that make me wonder why. There are instructions that come with assembling an item that often doesn’t make sense now, but later it comes together.

Paul is standing in a courtroom defending his life against false accusations from Jewish leaders who are directly opposed to Jesus being the Messiah Who was sent by God. When Paul begins his defense before King Agrippa he asked an effective “why” question. Check this out…

⁸ Why does it seem incredible to any of you that God can raise the dead? (Acts 26:8 NLT)

Everyone in the room was likely a believer in God. They simply refused to believe that He could send His Son to save the world they lived in. They had God inside certain boundaries and Paul was teaching that God shouldn’t be bound by our own boundaries.

I could ask myself some “Why questions” about God. I often ask God why He doesn’t heal the person or persons that I asked Him to heal. I often asked Him: “Why is this happening to me?” until I learned to ask it differently…. “Why not me?”

I read a book years ago I read a book called, “True Believers Don’t Ask Why” by John Fischer. The sub-title was, “Confronting the questions we pretend aren’t there”. I think it’s hard to walk with the Lord through suffering and struggle, but I can’t imagine going through suffering without Him.  I don’t always understand the reason behind the suffering.  Sometimes when we ask God questions from a place of honest struggle, the Lord can speak deep truth and understanding into my soul. I believe that when I ask God, “Why?” it’s a deep teachable moment.

I believe that God can do anything but fail.

I believe that God can do anything He wants outside the realm of possibilities. God is Supernatural and doesn’t have to operate inside our earth systems or my limited understanding. I am growing in my trust of God and ability to do anything He wants, when He wants. It is more difficult to understand God during suffering, but when I look back on it, I can really see He was there.

Pressing On!

Dwayne