‘Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalm 43:5 (NIV) / Pixabay
Why?
Those of you who’ve spent any time at all around children have experienced or at least heard about the “Terrible Twos”. But what about the “Terrible Sixties”? I don’t know about you, but sometimes it feels as if I’m stuck in those toddler years! I often want my own way, can throw a pretty good fit, and find myself repeating the question “Why?” over and over again.
Things happen in this life that I just don’t understand. Upheaval in the world, tragedies in my community, and very personal disappointments within my own family. I know you’ve been there, too. We pray and pray but the answer we get isn’t always the one we hope for. It’s in those very times that I raise my hands in despair and ask “why?”.** I need an attitude adjustment! And then, that still, small, Voice reminds me:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)
And there’s another voice, that of my mother-in-love, that also reminds me that God doesn’t make mistakes. The truth is we can’t begin to know why things happen the way they do to the people they happen to. Life often just doesn’t make sense to us. It’s when we begin to let go of our toddler ways though, that we can then grow in our faith and put our trust in God’s plan. Inch by inch we start to realize it doesn’t have to make sense to us because we know Who’s in control. It isn’t always easy and just like a toddler I still have a lot to learn! How about you? But when we put our hope in God, we have a wonderful promise to look forward to! The time when:
“…’God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ ” Revelation 21:3b-4 (NIV)
Just imagine: no tears, no pain, no mourning! And….no more “why’s?”!
This post is written as part of the 31 Days of Five Minute Friday Free Writes Challenge. You can read posts from other writers on the same topics over at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com I hope you know that I so appreciate you being here! God bless, Cindy
Your mother in love is completely right! But it takes a huge amount of faith and trust to look at it that way. She and I have been through the worst that life can give you. If not for that faith and trust we’d be wrecks. While I hope the worst never happens to anyone else, it’s a good idea to build that faith and trust! Never mind why. It’s a useless question in my opinion and only leads to useless speculation, which is a waste of time. God wants us to be happy and he’s put so much happiness and beauty in our path if we only can open our eyes and heart. Touched a nerve here Cindy. But I enjoyed your piece. xo
You preach it please! I need these words! It hurts my heart so that you and Jane have been through what you have! You both inspire me more than I can say! I definitely need to open my eyes and heart and stop worrying about what I can’t control! I am sorry I touched a nerve but thankful for your response! XO
Oh, I meant touched a nerve in a good way! That’s why we need you to keep up the good messages. I was explaining my reasoning. ha ha I am not as eloquent a writer as you so forgive me if I worried you.
❤️
Our posts had very similar themes today! Yes, there is so much we don’t understand just now. It is amazing to hold onto the end of the story and to know that all our questions will be answered!
And maybe we won’t even care because we have everything we need in Heaven! Thanks Lesley for taking time to comment!