Why?

That's the question that we often hear when difficult or heart-breaking situations arise. It’s a question that many of us, myself included, struggle with.

Yesterday some of us attended the funeral of the young man I mentioned at the beginning of this post. There were thousands of people praying for his healing, but after two and a half weeks the Lord saw it best to take his life. At a time like this many ask, “Why?” He was young, much of his life still ahead of him. He had a wife and unborn son. It could seem like a senseless death. How feeble and limited our human understanding is! If only we could see everything that God can see, we would not call it senseless. We would not doubt that it was perfect. (That does not at all mean that it is easy or that we should not weep with those who weep.)

Step for just a moment from the human-centered and earth-focused point of view. Instead of asking, “Why did God allow this?”, think about the question, “Why does God ever give us anything good?” Why would a perfect and holy God allow such a wicked world to go on? Because of His great mercy!

So many ask why God would allow bad things to happen. He is in complete control and could stop everything wrong in no time. Think about what that would mean, though. If He stopped everything that wasn’t perfectly good and holy right now, almost everyone on earth would be gone. However, because of His love and mercy and His desire that none should perish, He has patience with us and does not destroy us all right now. In fact, He even gives us many good gifts! I think that it is our perspective that is wrong. Instead of looking at what we think is bad, let’s look at the wonderful things God does for us each day – things that He certainly doesn’t need to do.

Another thing to consider when trials come is that life can be compared to a beautiful picture that God is painting. We can only see what is being painted right now. A good painting consists of all colors – including gray. At the time when God is painting the gray, that is all we can see. We don’t see the yellow that He will paint afterwards, and we often don’t remember the blue that He painted before.

The following song is called “Blessings”, by Laura Story. [Disclaimer: I do not endorse the music that Laura Story produces.] I came across these lyrics while I was thinking on this subject and I think that its message fits very well.

Blessings

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
And all the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Refrain:

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops?
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near?
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Refrain

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not,
This is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops?
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near?
What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy?
What if trials of this life,
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights,
Are your mercies in disguise?