Unexpected loss.
Unpaid expenses.
Unhealthy test results.
Unclear expectations.
Unrealistic goals.
Unmet needs.
Trials can take various forms, but often they drive us to the point of despair. Some relationships never heal. Some illnesses never go away. Some dreams remain out of reach. Some burdens never ease. Some problems have no solutions. Frustration, anger, loneliness and even depression are common outcomes to the difficulties we face. Perhaps the most puzzling and bewildering question underneath all our struggles is why?
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Why is God letting this happen? Why now? Why me? Why? Why? Why? Like you, I have wrestled with this difficult question numerous times in my life. The most obvious season of doubt came when my son was diagnosed with cancer several years ago. But there have been other moments of uncertainty that plagued my life as well. Disappointment and hardship of any kind, whether it be great or small, can leave us wrestling with our Creator in search of answers.
Over the years, both my experience and my study of Scripture have taught me at least three valuable lessons about navigating life’s adversities.
First, it is okay to ask God why. Occasionally, well-meaning Christians and Bible teachers will either explicitly or implicitly caution that asking God why is out of bounds. Yet, Scripture nowhere teaches that it is sinful to call out to God about His plans or purposes. A quick survey of the biblical record demonstrates the point.
Outside of Jesus, no one suffered more than Job, who consequently asked God why no less than 20 different times (EX: Job 3:11–12, 7:20–21, 13:24, 21:7). Moses asked God why He sent him to lead the nation of Israel (Ex 5:22). Joshua asked God why He was allowing Israel to be destroyed (Joshua 7:7). The prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah asked God why He dealt so harshly with Israel (Is 63:17; Jer 14:19). Perhaps most stunning of all, however, is the remarkable lament of Jesus on the cross when He cried, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me (Matt 27:46)?”
In none of these instances will you find God irritated or angry because of the inquiry. Questioning His work in your life is permissible even though demanding an answer is not. Feel free to ask God why, just don’t chastise Him if you do not like the response or the lack thereof. Our Lord’s compassion makes sense if you simply think about your children. I never resent the confused questions of my sons or daughters. In fact, I am eager to reassure them that everything will be okay when they are hurting. Even when I withhold information from them, I do so out of love and concern rather than exasperation. Surely, this is how God hears our pleas for information!
Second, Jesus really is enough. The issue is not whether God is real, but whether He is enough during seasons of discomfort. Scripture is resolute that God will never leave nor forsake His people (Deut. 31:6; Heb. 13:5). Jesus promised rest to those who are weary and heavy-laden (Matt. 11:28–29). These realities are theologically true, and yet, we usually cannot appreciate them fully until we need them the most. Difficult experiences allow us to put our biblical knowledge to the test. Much like Job, we find out that having Jesus in our lives is better than the answers or explanations He might provide to explain our plight (Job 38:1–41:34).
Knowing God will bear your burdens is quite different from watching Him do it. Believing the Father will answer your prayers is powerful, but not like waiting for Him to do so. Though our experiences are never the source of new truth, they can enhance our understanding of existing truth. Simply put, trials force us to depend upon and live out what we inwardly know.
Third, faith does not give us the power to eliminate trials, but to endure them instead. I do not mean to suggest that God cannot or does not work miracles in our lives today. The notion, however, that any trial or sickness can disappear by means of faith is patently false. Sometimes God develops us through trials rather than rescuing us from them (James 1:2–4). Prayerfully, I trust that I will be a better man because of the hardships that come my way. According to Scripture, endurance is something to celebrate, not avoid (2 Cor. 12:7–9).
Ultimately, we cannot always answer the question why?
Even then, our lack of knowledge should not result in a lack of faith. When ignorance assaults our peace of mind, we should continue to persevere in the wisdom of God (Prov. 3:7).
EDITOR’S NOTE — Dr. Adam B. Dooley is pastor of Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, TN, and author of Hope When Life Unravels and Exalting Jesus in 1-2 Chronicles.
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