The "Whys?" of God

 

    "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways" (Isaiah 55:8).

 

    Just as the ways of God and humanity conflict, so do the "Whys?"  Our Lord's reasoning proceeds from perfect wisdom, knowledge, foreknowledge, and the character that always perfectly applies the awareness of all details and consequences of actions.  Conversely, human reasoning is based upon limited insight, particularly in matters of God's working in our lives.  He doesn't explain Himself, except in the most general Biblical terms, and He never needs to apologize because "as for God, His way is perfect" (II Samuel 22:31). 

 

    Still, even the most ardent and devoted believers are often tempted to wonder and ask, "Why?"  As times passes and life unfolds, our Heavenly Father's determinations and allowances may begin to make at least some sense.  But sometimes they don't, and the fact of the matter is that we will leave this present world with unanswered questions.   "Oh God, why?" (Psalm 74:1).

 

    The truth of the matter is that when we need explanations, the Lord provides them.  When we don't He doesn't.  The latter path is hard, but we will one day discover it led to the greatest blessing in our lives.  It led us to the opportunity for faith in the night that doesn't exist in the light of a bright noonday sun.  When there is no answer for why our Father has determined or allowed some challenge, loss, heartache or heartbreak, we find ourselves graced with the possibility of trusting His heart when we cannot understand His hand.  We find ourselves desperately needing to relate to Him in the personal and living relationship that alone satisfies both His heart and ours.  And we find ourselves blessed with a particularly beautiful way of honoring the Lord Jesus Christ by trusting Him when all outward evidences beckon us to do otherwise.  "But Thou art holy, O Thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in Thee: they trusted, and Thou didst deliver them" (Psalm 22:3-4).

 

     We shall not pass this way again.  Heaven awaits believers, that bright and splendid place where our understanding will be glorified, and our challenges eliminated (I Corinthians 13:12; Revelation 21:4).  Thus, our only opportunity to trust God with no answers to "Why?" exists now, in this present life.  How we must bless His heart when we look to Him with tears of bewilderment and pain streaming down our faces, but with utterances of faith proceeding from our hearts, and borne upon our lips.  And how it declares the greatness and goodness of the Lord Jesus that His presence can enable such confidence.  Yes, the ways and "Whys?" of God are often beyond our understanding.  But His faithfulness is not beyond our Christ-enabled capacity to trust the Father's heart...

 

"Moses... endured, as seeing Him who is invisible."

(Hebrews 11:24; 27)