Why?

Why? A tiny little word. Yet its impact can bring you to your knees. Why Lord? Why did this happen? Why am I here? Why is this going on? Why?! Why?! Why?!

It taunts you in the morning. It interrupts your day. It denies you sleep. Unforgiving. Unrelenting. Unsympathetic. It consumes your life.

Life can be cruel. There’s no denying it. No one likes to be in a situation where they are tormented by this little word. Yet, it happens. It happens to all of us. And it leaves us searching for answers. Looking for reasons. Grasping for hope. Starving for peace.

And the cold reality of it is, answers aren’t always available. I wish they were. I wish there was an easy fix. A simple solution.

Wait a minute. Do I really wish for something easy and simple? Is that what I want?! Experience has taught me that I don’t always appreciate what is easy. Sometimes I overlook it. Take it for granted. Maybe it’s not supposed to be easy? Maybe part of the relief comes from the struggle itself.

1 Peter 1:6-7 tells us, 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Peter delivers a hard word here. He tells me that I will suffer grief in all kinds of trials. Sounds fun right? No, not really. But I do believe it is necessary. Just look at the outcome, These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith, may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Isn’t that why I am here in the first place? To praise God? To give Him all the glory and honor? Scriptures tell me that I am not my own. Jesus paid a price that I couldn’t pay. Once I said “yes” to God, I was in fact saying “no” to me. I am told to take up my cross daily. Dying to myself, daily.

Tough to hear. Even tougher to do. The great thing is that I am not alone. I have a Savior who is near to me though the trials. Helping me to bring about this desired outcome of praise, glory and honor to God.

When you are experiencing a dark time in your life and you feel like all you have is questions. It’s ok to ask “Why”. It’s natural. It’s normal. We are built to question. However, never lose sight of Peter’s words. In addition to the question of “Why” start asking the question of “How”. How can I praise God? How can I glorify God? How can I honor God?

It’s not going to be easy. It’s not going to be quick. But, it will definitely be worth it. And in the end, you will look back and see all the different ways God used the situation to strengthen your faith. Hard to imagine. I know. But, it’s the truth. Hang in there. You’ll make it.

And never, never stop asking questions.