Moving From Why to What
Breast cancer, renal cancer, brain tumors, skin cancer, and the list of health related issues I am praying over this very morning goes on and on. Sadly, we do not have to look to far to find someone who is suffering. Whether from health issues, natural disaster, personal or financial strains, hurt is everywhere.
My past practice when I witnessed or endured suffering was to ask God ‘why’ questions. “Why would you allow this?” “Why, if you are able, didn’t you stop this?” “Why, God? Why?” But what I’ve come to realize is that my why questions were never really answered by God and that if I truly believe his is all knowing and always working for good as the Bible states, then He must have a very good reason for what is going on in my life and the lives around me. It was then that I was forced to either believe Him to be good all the time or believe that He is not. And I believe he is always good even when life is not. And that decision required me to alter my question to ask, “What?”
“God, what do you want me to learn from this?” “God, what are you doing in my life and the lives around me?” “What are you preparing me for?” “What God, what?” And here’s WHAT i’ve learned from my suffering:
Photo by Emily Morter on Unsplash
God used pain to reveal my need for him. When circumstances beyond my control hit, I was reminded of my limited ability and cried out to my God and creator.
God used suffering to bring unity and deepened my relationships. In crisis I was more caring, giving, and available and so were those around me.
God used pain to restore me to right relationship with himself. When I was brought low, my response was to look up, seek, and worship the One and only God.
Pain had a way of refining priorities and purpose in my life. When all was right and easy in my life, I tended to focus on the world instead of on the eternal, but suffering brought me back to what really matters.
What God is doing in suffering is strengthening and refining me. I don’t know what your situation is today, but I know pain is inevitable. And when it comes, you can ask, “Why?” or you can ask “What?” Asking why often leads to self-pity and shame, but what leads to the true character of God and positive change in your life! What will you choose?