Why?



Why did I not die at birth, come out from the womb and expire?
Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul,
who long for death, but it comes not, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures,
who rejoice exceedingly and are glad when they find the grave?
Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?
(Job 3:11, 20-23 ESV)



Job has broken the week long silence with a gut wrenching discourse that seems to be filled with unanswerable questions. In this speech to his friends he reflects so much pain and anguish of soul. He tells these who seem closest to him that his pain is so great that he wonders why he had ever been born. The man who was once so confident seems to have nothing left but questions. The issue of "why" seems to often be a part of the grieving process.

I think that it is normal, albeit unhelpful, to ask "why" when something bad happens. I have spent many years trying to make sense of my first wife's early death and my second wife's wheelchair disability - to be honest I still struggle with the "why" question. But asking unanswerable questions is not helpful because it keeps us stuck in our pain. Conversely, I find that I am most healthy when I simply trust God in the midst of my unanswerable questions.

These words ring out in my soul today Lord - Be still and know that I am God. Amen.


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