Three Ways to Ask Why

Why, God?

Is this a proper question for us to ask? Depends on how we ask it!

#1. Why me, God? Sometimes we only ask "why?" when something hits close to home. If we had read about the same disaster or difficulty in the newspaper, we might have gone on with our day without a crisis of faith. Glad it's them, not me! If it had happened to our neighbor or friend, we might have been sad...but not too shaken. We love ourselves far more than our neighbors; whenever we ask why it does us well to search our heart and repent of this.

#2. Why God with a fist. When we scowl at God, raise our fist, and ask why, we sin against God. We also sin against our own well being, for we close ourselves off to the answer God might give.

#3. Why God, with humility. When our why is joined with humility, I believe it is an expression of faith. Humility means that we are open to God's answer, or to no answer at all. We entrust ourselves to God in spite of the confusion, but also express ourselves to God. We know that as our heavenly Father he will not be surprised or angered by our question.

Related to the why question is another question seen frequently in the Bible:

How long, O Lord?
Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
(Psalm 13:1)

To ask how long implies that we know that God will ultimately deliver us, that his intention for us is good. We may be troubled by the difficulties God allows - but we know it is not forever. We know his good purposes will win out.

Lift up your questions to God, but not your fists.