"Why?"

"Why did this happen to me?"

"Why didn't You stop it, God? 

"Why are You allowing this pain?" 

"Don't You love me?"

Maybe you've felt that way. Maybe you are feeling that way right now. The pain. The questions. The confusion. How do we make sense of life, when "Why?" is the question we most want an answer to and there don't seem to be any answers on the horizon?

Years ago, I was in a "why?" situation. In the midst of the pain, all I wanted was relief. It seemed like the best way to find relief was to change location, to change churches, to go somewhere else. But there was a gnawing within. I knew that God had not released me. He wanted me to stay where I was. "Why?" yelled even louder inside of me. But when you are sure of what God is saying,  even if it isn't what you want, there really is no other choice. I stayed.

As with many such situations, over time the pain receded. I felt God's presence walking through it with me, even though the situation didn't change and I didn't understand why. There was some healing and life found a new "normal" balance. It didn't happen quickly, but it did happen.

Eventually, I could talk about it without feeling the bruise. It was in one of those conversations when a friend told me that if I had left in the middle of that situation, she would have gone as well. It had never occurred to me that my reaction to my pain could help or hurt someone else. As my friend shared, it was obvious that my decision not to escape, to obey God and stay without knowing why, had helped her. It had minimized her pain.

My dear friend, I don't know what is causing you pain at this moment, but I can assure you that God is in the middle of it with you. He may answer your "why?" some day and He may not.  Regardless, of that, how you respond now makes more difference than you will know. What if it isn't really about you?



Key Thought: God's ever-present love gets me through everything.

A Scripture to Consider: Romans 8:35-37

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

A YES challenge: How can you rely on God's love in the middle of your pain?

Prayer:
Lord, "Why?" is the question I most want to ask, but I know that You may not give me the answer. Please help me to remember that Your love for me is not always expressed by making my life easier. Help me to remember that Your love is expressed through Your presence in my life regardless of circumstances. Help me get to the other side of this pain. Thank You for Your unfailing love! Amen.