Your Questions...His Word (post 7) AND a Giveaway!

If you're just joining, us we are currently working through a series/giveaway, titled Your Questions...His Word. Click here to go back to the beginning and feel free to comment away to enter into the drawing that will be described at that first post. For now, we are back on track with more of our questions with answers from His Word...

Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?

That's a logical question, right? In all actuality, it's the same exact question, repeated five times! It puts me in mind of a curious child. She lives with such wander and naivete when she asks her mama things like "Why is the sky blue?" or "How big is the universe in inches?" Despite any logical or seemingly sufficient answer the mother may give, the precious girl's mind still whirls with questions. She may even venture to say, "But why? But why? But why?" a million times over.

I have to admit, that's where I've been parked a time or two in my own grief journey, and even in recent weeks. The answer to one question begs I ask another. And another. And another. Well, and maybe just one more. Can you relate?

If we are honest with ourselves, we are just like that curious little girl. We approach our Heavenly Father with questions, pleas, and petitions of all sorts. Each of these are fine in their own regard. In fact, Scripture encourages us to freely approach Him with all of our cares. We are called to cast our cares upon Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7)...what comfort! Sometimes this may come in the form of "But why?" a million times over. Other times it may be one follow-up question after another, or a thought of "How about you do it this way, God?" The truth is, we often approach Him with a sense of entitlement as opposed to a heart of thanksgiving. Oh my, the truth hurts.

The Truth [capitol T] is also where we find the answers to our never-ending, all-consuming line of questioning. Consider Job. For any of you who are familiar with the story of Job, you know the suffering he endured and that he didn't deserve it. As a side note, I have a friend who has a catchy saying about what we deserve....it may sound harsh, but she's right when she says, "all we deserve is hell." But God and His Mercy! Back to Job....in our humanness, it's easy to think to ourselves something like, "Now that man had a right to question God!" Well, ladies....God stopped Job right in his tracks and turned the questioning around, putting him in his place, asking things like...

"Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?" (Job 38:2)
"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?" (Job 38:4)
"Have you ever given order to the morning, or shown the dawn its place, that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it?" (Job 38:12-13)
"What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed, or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth? (Job 38:24)
"Who endowed the heart with wisdom or gave understanding to the mind?" (Job 38:36)

And the line of questioning goes on! God sums up his questioning by asking Job, "Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!" (Job 40:2). Job so humbly replies in verse 4 of that passage, "I am unworthy - how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth."

As God rambled off question after question to Job, I put myself in Job's place. I have to admit, I've done this before as the storms of loss bombarded me. I likened myself to Job, but was far from it. Suffering is suffering, plan and simple. But Job was the most "righteous" man on the earth in his time. I can absolutely guarantee that the same is NOT true of me! Yet, I could relate to Job's suffering, as many of you probably can as well. When God blasted Job with his own line of questioning, I couldn't help but act as though God were asking those questions to me. My response:

No, God, I don't know how you made the heavens or the earth and everything in it, but I trust in You as Creator. No, God, I was not there at the beginning of time, but You were and You already knew me by name because that's how much You love me. And Lord, I have never given the dawn its place or told morning to come and night to fall, but I'm so thankful that You do. God, I have no clue as to the where lightning is stored and no power to direct its bolts across the sky, but marvel at Your power to do that very thing. I admit, Lord, I have not one good thing to offer - no wisdom or power or authority or understanding. I have nothing. I am nothing. But God. I have You. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for being patient with me. Thank You for your loving correction, that only a Father could give. Thank You for letting me cast my cares upon You. Thank You for creating me. Thank you for creating my babies who are with You now. Thank You for your mercy. Thank You for giving Your Son. Thank You for saving me. Thank You for never letting me go. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You a million times over, and it's still not enough. The only thing I have to offer you is my life, which is already Yours. Take it and use it for Your glory.

What's your response?