When tragedy hits, it’s often natural for us to ask, why?
The book of Job is filled with moments when Job asks the question, why?
It’s OK to ask God, why, as long as we don’t get the idea that He somehow owes us an answer.
God does not owe you or me an explanation.
Yet we may still wonder, why?
If the Lord did tell you why things happen the way they do, would that ease your pain or heal your broken heart?
It would raise even more questions.
God says, “My ways are above your ways, and my thoughts above yours.”
We live on promises, not explanations, so we shouldn’t spend too much time asking God why.
When my youngest sister battled and later died of cancer, I really struggled and asked, why?
I don’t know.
That is my answer.
Chuck Smith once said that we should never trade what you don’t know for what you do know.
I know God loves me. I know God loves our family. I also know God can make good things come of bad.
So I will stand on what I know, instead of what I don’t know.
In his commentary on the book of Job, Chuck Swindoll wrote: God never promised He would inform us all about His plan ahead of time; He’s just promised He has one. Ultimately, it’s for our good and His glory. That’s why we shrug and admit, ‘I don’t know.’ “
The Bible says, The secret things belong to the Lord our God – Deuteronomy 29:29.
We need an eternal perspective. In John 11, after the unexpected death of her brother, Martha spoke to Jesus and said, “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died – John 11:21.
Martha was saying to Jesus, “This is unfair. It’s not right!” But she still cried out to Jesus.
That is what we must do as well. Go to Jesus with your frustrations, anguish, and questions. Call out to Him. Just make sure you listen to His response.
Jesus did not correct Martha for making this statement. Rather, He sought to get Martha back to an eternal perspective here.
Jesus said to her, Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” – John 11:25-26.
Death is not the end. Jesus has overcome it.
Harry Loewen is pastor of East Ridge Community Fellowship.