So many unanswered questions. So much heartache or division or destruction. Why?
I love that human beings ask why, and I hate that human beings ask why We were created curious and 
from our beginnings seeking answers. Humans have discovered amazing findings in science because of our hunger for answers. But…How frustrating when we can’t find answers!
When we ask God, our Creator, ‘why?’ it can give cause us to doubt Him. Job did. Job lost everything. He was a good guy. “Why me?,” he asked. Friends came by who thought they had all the answers. Those answers were often arrogant and judged him. He goes to God. God basically responds with questions of His own:
Job 38 ~ God begins:
Can you answer the questions I ask? How did I lay the foundation for the earth? Were you there?
Did you ever tell the sun to rise? And did it obey?
Where is the home of light, and where does darkness live? Can you lead them home?
Can you arrange stars in groups such as Orion and the Pleiades? Do you control the stars or set in place the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper?
I’m not sure that was what Job was looking for. And many of us today are still not satisfied with The Reality that God is God. He can choose to do whatever, whenever, because He is God. He is the ‘Great I AM. Pick any horrendous event and we ask, “How can God allow this to happen? He is love. He is good. Why?”
We ask God why when we struggle with disaster, disease, war, famine…heartbreak, betrayal, deceit. While talking with flood victims in Louisiana (the 500 year flood of 2016) I often heard through the pain a seeking for answers: “Was God punishing me?” “What did I do to deserve this?”
Ever since we bought into the lie: “Did God really mean…?“, we have contended with ‘Why?’
It is incredible how much has been said about God and human suffering. We are truly looking for answers. Many, who are arrogant enough, have decided they have the answers. Hundreds of books, sermons, articles, websites—all seeking human answers. The arguments and conclusions reside in our core beliefs and attitudes about who God is or isn’t in our lives. Here are but a few of the answers we have chosen:
• There are those who cannot accept a God who allows suffering. They want Him to be a kind God because for them, kindness = love. Logic is challenged when we know God is good, and if He is good He would want suffering eliminated. Right? We know God is all-powerful, He can stop it all, right? The first time a young adult tries to make sense of it all, they often get angry at God. They begin to believe the lies that God is powerless, or that He doesn’t car
e. They blame God, or worse, they quit on God. They decide atheism makes more sense. Some try to apologize for God: “God is limited, He is a victim, He is on trial.”
• Eastern religions say that suffering is an illusion. If you follow nature’s law there will be no suffering in life. It’s all about your karma. You can overcome your suffering by discovering your true identity and transcend all pain. It’s all about self-awareness and enlightenment. Suffering hones our relationship with the mystery of the universe.
• Psychology says that suffering is normal. “We find that anywhere between one half and two thirds of people we’ve surveyed in the United States admit they sometimes feel angry at God in response to some current thing they are suffering with.” (psychologist, Julie Exline of Case Western Reserve University) “It makes us human. It is as bad as we make it. It helps us appreciate our ‘times of comfort.’ It doesn’t reflect our self-worth.” (Psychology World) Jung attributed neurosis to the avoidance of “legitimate” suffering. He taught that suffering is a necessary ingredient for psychological growth.
Take the question to the street, ‘Why is there suffering?” Here are a few of our human responses:
“People have to learn lessons, I guess.” • “You can’t have a rainbow without the rain.” • “If there was no suffering you wouldn’t know what good looks like.” • “Nobody grows without a challenge.” • “God wants us to experience the consequences of our decisions.” • “Maybe God is testing us.” • “God cares, but that’s just the way of the world.” • “to give us a purpose” • “there’s too many people on the earth.” • “Poverty” • “Greed” • “global warming” • “lack of compassion” • “lack of resources, money” • “it’s a human condition” • “God” • “People are cruel.” • “People are stupid.” • “Corruption, ignorance.” • “I have no idea.” (YouTube, Why Is There Suffering? Why Does Suffering Happen? Why Suffering?)
God has so much more to say to us about our suffering. ” 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? No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” Romans 8:35, 37
There’s much to learn. Even though suffering is way beyond our human understanding, God does give us His Words to bring us closer to His truth. Do you trust Him enough to give you some answers; maybe answers that will satisfy? Is it your hope that He will let you know the answers to your own ‘why?’ I believe God reveals to us His purposes bit by bit as we are ready to grasp it.
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18 KJV
This is what He has taught me up until this point in my life:
When you turn to Him in the midst of the storm, that very action of turning to Him becomes the game changer.
I have accepted my need. I am ready to have Him lead me through it.
He has been in the middle of it all along.
There is another answer. We have a choice.