The Question of “Why?”

Over the years I have had many people ask me, “Why do we have to endure suffering?“ Pain (physical, mental, emotional), loss of loved ones, loss of job, divorce, loss of physical ability, persecution, injustice, etc.?

How often do you ask the question “Why?”

I admit, I have asked God that question many, many times. I've had plenty of times in my life where I felt justified in asking “Why?”

Some of the sufferings I've been dealt are: I've lost many loved ones, I've gone through 2 divorces, I've gone through hard times with my children, I have been afflicted with medical conditions and have to rely on daily medications. Among some of my afflictions are, Fybromyalgia, which causes daily pain, weakness and fatigue, I never know from one day to the next and sometimes one hour to the next how bad my pain will be or what physical limitation I will face. There have been times in my life that the Fibromyalgia flared up so badly that it took tremendous effort just to take a few steps and it was agonizing pain.

I also have Bipolar disorder and I must take a handful of medication on a daily basis to control my moods and keep my brain chemicals “stable.” I have had to learn to be very aware of my moods so that I can alert my Dr. if things start to slip away from “normal” so that we can make changes to my medications to keep me from becoming manic, depressed or suicidal. I feel as though my Bipolar disorder has taken me to hell and back.

Yes, Bipolar disorder can cause the sufferer to have suicidal thoughts and sometimes it becomes so unbearable that the sufferer thinks the only way to end the pain and suffering is through suicide and they then act on it. I have been to that point and I have the scars and memories to prove it. But, God intervened at those times I wanted my pain and suffering to end “NOW” and He stopped me, He said not yet my child, and He guided me to the help I needed.

There have been plenty of times in my life where I just screamed..”Why Lord, Why!?”. There are still times I WANT to scream, to cry out to God, “Why?”

But, I have learned and am still learning to ask instead, “Why NOT?” To ask “What is it that you are going to teach me though this?” “How are you going to use my suffering and pain in this time in my life to teach me what I need to learn and what you want me to teach others?” “How are you going to use me through this?” “What is Your plan in all of this?”

This causes me to think of the words of the apostle Paul:

All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.

Paul tells of being given a “thorn in the flesh”, we have no way of knowing if it was a physical ailment or a spiritual torment, but what Paul is telling us is that something in his life was constantly tormenting him, a source of unending suffering.

Paul then tell us:

Concerning this thing (meaning the thorn in his flesh), I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me . God answered him and said:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Sometimes God gives us a “thorn in the flesh”, be it a physical ailment, a disability, a difficulty, a loss in some way or countless other things so that we will learn to fully rely on Him for strength. I like to tell myself to FROG! (Fully Rely On God)

If God allowed us to be physically perfect, to never feel pain of any kind, to never endure hard times, to never shed a tear in pain, weakness, or sorrow then we would never need to call on Him for strength.

One of my favorite songs “In Me” by Casting Crowns explains it so well:

When I am weak, You make me strong, When I'm blind You shine your light on me, For I'll never get by Living on my own abilities.

We must learn that the only way we will truly survive and follow the plans God has for us is to completely rely on Him.

As hard as it may seem to do, we need to rejoice and praise God during our times of suffering.

Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Have you ever read the book of Job? Job is perhaps one of the perfect examples of human suffering, before Jesus. He had everything a man could want and more, he had a wife, seven sons and three daughters. He also had 7000 sheep, 300 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very large home. Job was blameless and upright in his life and his faith. He feared God and turned away from evil. In our time his sheep, camels, donkeys, oxen would be equivalent to all the “things” we have and want...our cars, our homes, our t.v.'s our tivo's, our DVR's, all of our electronic gadgets that make our lives easier and more fun. Then along comes Satan and wants to “test” Job, he wants to prove that Job isn't such a blameless man, that he won't hold tight to his faith in God. Satan claims that if he were to take away all that Job has, Job would then turn away from God. God tell Satan that Job is a blameless and upright man who fears Him and shuns evil. Satan tells God:

But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!

God then does what Satan requests. He takes everything from Job. Job looses his family, he looses his wealth, all of his possessions, and he looses his health.

Job struggles, he suffers, he questions God, he argues, he cries out in utter desperation and then...he repents. Even though he has lost everything in his life he says to God:

• 2. I know you You can do everything, And no purpose of Your's can be withheld from You.
• 3. You asked “Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?” Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things to wonderful for me, which I did not know.
• 4. Listen, please and let me speak: You said “I will question you and you shall answer Me.
• 5. I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear. But now my eye sees You.
• 6. Therefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.”

God then is very please with Job. Yes, Job questioned God but, Job never once turned away from Him and in the end, he repented and then he understood why God allowed Satan to take everything he held near and dear to him along with all of his family.

Once Job acknowledges the sovereignty of God in his life, he receives back more than he had before his trails and suffering. Now, I know that when you're in pain, when your in despair, when it feels as if life is against you and your world feels like it's been turned upside down and inside out, the last thing you think to do is praise the Lord but that's exactly what the Bible is telling us to do.

Have you ever really sat back and thought about the horrific suffering that Jesus endured not only at His crucification but through His entire life? He suffered mentally, emotionally, physically, He was tempted for 40 day and 40 nights by Satan after His baptism, he was constantly persecuted, he was beaten, stoned, whipped, and hung on the cross to die. Have you ever given serious thought as to why?

He endured all of that for...US!! All of us who believe in Him. So that we could have eternal life. He also endured all of that so that in our times of trials, in our times of despair, hopelessness, and suffering we can call on Him and because He has endured all of the same suffering as we do, He can understand and comfort us in our time of need.

God gives us “suffering” so that we can in turn understand what other's are going through and we can reach out in their time of need and comfort them. God is teaching us through our suffering to be like Jesus!

As written by Don Piper in a book I will refer to later:

“Your current suffering may be God's secret weapon to accomplish great things. He works behind the scenes to enable us to fulfill His purpose.”

As I said earlier, I have learned and continue to learn to ask “Why NOT?”, “What is it You are wanting to teach me through this?” “How are You using me to tell others of your amazing love for all of us?”

It's important for you to ask the same questions.

And, even more important is to know and believe that God does have a lesson for you through whatever suffering is given to you. When you learn that lesson, when you realize what purpose God has for you, then it's your responsibility to share it with others.

You will probably ask next, “When will He show me His purpose?” “When will He reveal His message and His plan for me?” “How long will it take before I understand why this is happening?”

The answer is one we don't like to hear because we are human and we want our suffering to be over with “right now” but, we must trust in God's timing. Everything takes place in His timing, not ours.

We may get an immediate answer or we may have to wait for weeks, months or even years before God answers but...He WILL answer!

I recently read 2 books that I strongly suggest everyone read. “90 Minutes In Heaven” and “Heaven Is Real” both written by Don Piper and Cecil Murphey.

The author, Don Piper was involved in a horrible car accident. His car was hit and run over by a truck. Don was pinned in his car and he died.

By the time EMT's got to the scene of the accident Don was dead. 8 EMT's checked his pulse and all 8 confirmed he had none.

It just so happened that an acquaintance of his was in the line of traffic backed up because of the accident and he was a minister. He got out of his car and walked to the scene. He asked if there was anyone he could pray for and was told the man in the car was dead but he could pray for the truck driver. He chose to go and pray for the man he was told was dead. God was telling him to go to Don Piper and pray for him. There was no way he could get into the car other than to crawl through the trunk, into the back seat. He could only reach Don's shoulder so he put his hand on his shoulder and prayed. He prayed and prayed then started singing. Before long, Don was singing along with him...very quietly but he WAS singing!! Don had been dead for 90 minutes and God brought him back! Don spent 90 minutes in heaven. He describes what heaven is like, although it is hard to describe such wonder and beauty

Don spent 105 days in the hospital and endured countless surgeries for his injuries but he suffered absolutely no internal injuries and THAT is what the man in the car prayed for!

The story tells of his accident, his 90 minutes spent in heaven, his recovery and the suffering he endured. It also tells of the many many times Don asked God..why? Why did You give me a glimpse of heaven and then bring me back to this broken and battered human body? Why would You do that? Why didn't you bring me back the same as I was before, in good health? Why am I having to endure all the pain? What is Your purpose in all of this? Why, why. Why?

It was years before Don told his story to anyone, his story of being in heaven. He wanted to keep it to himself feeling it was too sacred to share. But, he did finally share it and through that sharing and with the help of his family, friends and Cecil Murphey he came to understand the answer to all his “Why's?”

He went on to write another book, “Heaven Is Real” and it goes on to tell even more in depth what heaven is like, what his life is like now and why God chose to give him that small glimpse and then have him come back and suffer.

I can not do these books justice in describing them, but I can say that they changed my life and my way of thinking. I always knew I wanted to go to heaven and I try to live my life according to God's word and His will so that I can get there someday, but these books make me feel like “I just can't wait to live in that kind of eternity!” I have always tried to live in gratitude, even in my worst times, but Don's story makes me want to strive harder than ever before to have an “Attitude of Gratitude.” To live so that no matter what trials I may have to endure, no matter what obstacles are placed in my way, no matter what kind of hard times I have to live through, no matter what pain and suffering I must endure, I will always turn to the Lord, praise Him, thank Him, love Him, trust in Him, knowing all along that He has a plan for me.

Dear Lord, I understand You have a plan for my life. That all that you give me, good or bad is for a reason. Please help me remember that You are always in control. Remind me that no matter what struggles You are placing in my life, to turn to You and trust in You. I am only as strong as You make me and I know I can't get by on my own. I need You. Give me eyes to see the wonders you have in store for me, give me ears to hear You, give my mind wisdom to know and understand, give me a heart that is always compassionate, loving, kind and reaching out to other's. I ask all this in Jesus name, Amen

Debi Sink Knowlton
4-4-09