Why do we drive on parkways and park on driveways?

Why are there interstate highways in Hawaii?

Why isn’t the word, “phonetic” spelled the way it sounds?

Why are there flotation devices under plane seats, instead of parachutes?

These questions provoke us with thoughts that are both intriguing and amusing. But often, for the believer in Christ, the “why questions” of life are neither intriguing or amusing.

Throughout my years of pastoral ministry so many Christians have expressed to me their belief that the serious “why questions” should never even be asked, let alone should we embark on a quest for any answers. “I know that I shouldn’t be asking why…”, or “I know that it’s wrong to wonder why…”, these hurting friends often say after a tragic set of circumstances visits them unexpectantly. But their wistful and mournful attitudes that accompany such statements indicate a heartfelt desire to know the answers anyway. And, I believe, rightly so.

I submit to you that there is nothing wrong with asking why something has happened as long as it is not asked in an angry, rebellious manner. Our sovereign God has perfectly good reasons for allowing difficult intrusions into our lives and, I believe, that He often desires us to know His purposes for them. At least He reveals what some of them are in His Word.

Sometimes God uses trials to humble us, His servants (II Cor. 12:7). Other times He employs them to teach us something (Psa. 119:71), or to chasten and return us to the right path (Psa. 119:67). Sometimes these unexpected “pop-quizzes” are designed to test our hearts and reveal our present level of love and obedience (Deut. 8:2). Through them God may be equipping us to minister to others who will later go through similar trials (II Cor. 1:3-4) or He may be positioning us near people who need a clear gospel witness (Acts 16:1-34).

Even if sometimes we cannot determine the specific, short-term reason for our suffering, we can be sure of its overall purpose. God’s Word tells us that He is working together with the all things of our lives for the purpose of bringing us into greater conformity to the image and character of Christ. He is using trials to develop endurance and maturity in us that we might bear even more fruit for His glory. He tells us that “…all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God” (II Cor. 4:15; Rom. 8:28-29; James 1:2-5; Rom. 5:3-5; John 15:1-8).

When God sends or allows surprise hardships to come our way, let us not run from asking the “why questions”. Instead, let us ask them in faith, believing that there does exist special reasons for them from a loving God. Let’s examine His Word and our own hearts for the answers and then cooperate with His work in our hearts. Let’s then respond by humbly trusting, submitting, learning, growing, bearing fruit, ministering to others, and by rejoicing because of the evidence that God is indeed at work in our lives.

I and my family have recently moved here to West Virginia from Eastern Pennsylvania. One of our memories of “back home” was that it often seemed that whatever road we would choose to take on any given day was found to be blocked, detoured, or filled with potholes or other challenges. We often asked, “How can this be? Why is this so difficult?!” The answer was usually provided by the message found on small yellow signs which read, “Men Working”, which message often we had to take by faith.

In much the same way, when we meet the jarring potholes and frustrating detours and delays of life, we need to, with the eyes of faith, see a sign along our road that declares “God Working”, and then cooperate with Him in the work that He is seeking to accomplish in and through our lives.

No, it’s not wrong to ask “Why?”. It may be wrong not to ask and thus not discover anew what wonderful things God may be doing for His glory.

By the way, you know that little indestructible black box that is used in planes? Why can’t they make the whole plane out of this same substance??

David Jones
Pastor of Care Ministries
© 2002 Bible Center Church

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