What and Why Lord?

What and Why Lord?

Our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation. 2 CORINTHIANS 1:7 

During stormy weather, when the strong winds blow, the roots of plants actually dig down deeper. Then when the calm days return, the new roots provide a deeper foundation for new growth. That is the way it should be with us. What we receive from disruptive moments depends upon how we respond. The right question is never, “Why, Lord?” It is always, “What, Lord? What do You want to teach me through this disruptive moment? Take me around and through the bend in the road as my Teacher. Don’t let me miss anything that You want me to see and learn.” Dear friend, if you face a disruptive moment with any other perspective than that, it will just be a bump in the road that bounces you all over the highway. When it is over you will just be sore, and you won’t be any better. Purpose now, before you get to the bends in the road, that you will respond in a way that produces more of God’s will in your life.  - Dr. David Jeremiah Morning and Evening 

In recent months we've been hard pressed to get much done around our house. To clean, to sort, donate, to pitch.  The urge to not let up has been intense at times. 

We know not the specific reason other than in God's eyes and through His Spirit, we press on to obey.  We know that something is coming but know not what.

Preparation is more important than perspiration. You can work like a mad man and still get nothing accomplished. 

We as sheep often don't rest very well in not knowing what's going on or why.

I was reminded of Psalms 23 in regards to this.

The Lord is my shepherd,
I will not be in need.
He lets me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For the sake of His name.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Certainly goodness and faithfulness will follow me all the days of my life,
And my dwelling will be in the house of the Lord forever.

I struggle at times with the unknown answer. In a great many ways Jesus hardwired my mind for troubleshooting. To figuring out problems. When hit with things that I do not know it's hard.

What happens with believers in this life is training in becoming more like Christ. That's the core definition of a Disciple. Why is still relevant to that. 

In the movie the Karate Kid, Daniel was given tasks to do for training that made him confused. He understood nothing of why he was doing what he was doing. Painting boards. One size with one hand the other with the other. Waxing a car. Wax on the car with one hand, off with the other. 

A life in Christ can indeed be confusing. But that's where faith comes in. Just like Daniel had to be shown what he was doing and why it was that way. Incidentally Daniel in all 3 movies kept making it difficult for himself because he kept not connecting the dots between lessons taught and applications.

We often won't know every exact reason what is going on or why.

We will never understand why, exactly, someone we love is ill or dies, no matter how hard we pray. We may see physical issues and hear a Doctor say what they think, but the real what and why are only found in Christ. Human beings cannot always fully understand that even death is an answer to prayer in the suffering of one they care deeply about. 

Human passions override reason in regards to family and friends we are close to. 

We can't understand the mind of God in the affairs of mankind. God is the only one who knows the hearts of men and women. Scripture says He searches the hearts of mankind. He knows. 

Like Paul, who was shown things in his personal training from Jesus, I too have been shown things that are for me alone by God.  Things that were wondrous.  The Spirit works in the hearts of the Children of God to make them more like Christ. 

What and Why things are happening in our lives is and should be seen as through that lens of the work of the Spirit of God. 

We may only understand it after we are in His presence in Heaven. We may see it in our lifetime. God only knows.  

He lets me lie down...we are allowed to lie down. But note the very next words. He leads me.

The Shepherd doesn't always explain to the sheep what is going on, He just says "You, follow Me.".

For His Names sake. There's your What and your Why.

We feel we have a right to know. No, we don't. We take up our own cross and follow Jesus. Because of our living our lives for Him, because of His Name. Pointing a lost world to a living hope. Scripture says that every single person will be without excuse before Jesus Christ. To achieve that requires an an almost infinite amount of circumstances to eliminate every excuse. To our minds it's likely not going to make sense, to His it always makes sense. 

Keep in prayer, keep focused on Our Shepherd. Trust and Obey.