why ? and other futile questions…..
why is one of those questions we’ve all asked. usually, it’s when we’re less than pleased with an outcome or circumstance. in those cases we wonder why?
i met a woman not too long ago who was caught up in wondering why. the why’s in her life was causing her a lot of pain. she wondered why her son ended up in jail. she wondered why and where she went wrong. her son who i’ll call tim was definitely wanted, loved, and cherished. she took him to sunday school and church, and while she’s honest enough to say she wasn’t perfect - she did the best she could and modeled a good chriistian life. her husband “tim’s” father also loved God - attended church and lived an honest hard working life.
nonetheless “tim” made one bad choice after another. his parents disciplined him consistently - prayed fervently and sought clergy and professional help. all of this made this woman wonder why - why her - what went wrong etc etc.
now there are lots of people who offer all kinds of suggestions and wisdom to the mom’s and dads of “tim”……..perhaps it was “not enough faith” - “secret sin” - prayerlessness - maybe their parenting was not effective - they were “too strict” not strict enough”….the reasons and lists go on and on. i understand the urge and need to make sense of it all. remember that’s what Job’s friends did. they tried to make sense of what seemed like endless and useless suffering to the point of blaming their dear friend.
it’s important to note though that adam and eve had a perfect Father and they still sinned. i know another woman for example who spent much of her adult life in prison. her son who i’ll call “tom” moved from house to house to stay with different relatives. while he bounced from school to school and house to house wearing hand me downs and eating leftovers - he managed to become an honor student. he was well organized and planned well. he graduated high school with honors and went on to college.
i saw him the other night and he said “my mom is out of prison again but she moved away - she’s in trouble” but i am going to stay in school and make something of myself. i am so thankful that “tom” has made good choices. his story points out though that life does not always seem fair and that some people defy the “whys”. certainly, we all have a free will. “tom” is the perfect case study for what should be a trouble life - but he has defied the odds by exercising his free will.
what i am saying here is that none of us for surety can know all the “whys” with anything. certainly free will plays a part. but a prodigal child is not always the product of a poor environment. there are parents who do the right things - the best they can - and yet things don’t always turned out as planned.
there is no formula to ensure that everything always turns out perfectly. i do believe for all the mom’s and dad’s of children like “tim” that continued prayer and hope against hope will eventually re-write their history’s and legacies. certainly, the effectual fervant prayer of the righteous avails MUCH.
the most productive courses of action is not “why”. that is both negative and guilt producing…….what we can do when we have more “why’s” than answers is to obey, trust and pray.
God is able to redeem the most difficult of situations. He doesn’t do that in our whys. our self condemnation and blaming do not bring change or miracles. Trusting in Him and obeying His Word……will end the futility of questions…ease the burdens and the guilt.
whether your child is a “tim” a “tom” or somewhere in between - God’s plan is always best. God can take you from why……..to who……..and our “Who” is the Great ” I Am”.
move from why to the Great I AM today. you’ll find the encouragement and GRACE you need.
shalom,
monica
« Your Teen and Dating | Home | Herman & Sharron TV Interview »
Comments
The Truth will set you free from the why’s that run through our minds when things are happening and we question with the why’s of life. Instead of asking why, Honoring the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ and Believe, Trust and Turn to Him in those bad times and good times always.
A dear friend of mine was given a Word from the Lord for me many years ago and she wrote the Scripture down on a piece of paper and gave it to me, that scripture was:
Proverbs 3:5,6
Trust in the Lord with ALL YOUR HEART, and lean not on your own understanding; In ALL your Ways ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, and HE WILL DIRECT YOUR PATHS.
I understood it then years ago but just recently learned to live it out in my life after my dear friend shared the truth with me about Adam and Eve having the Perfect Father and they made their choice in life which was totally opposite of the Father’s Will.
Monica I thank you for the words of truth you have shared with me about Adam and Eve. That set me free, as the Word say’s that the Truth WILL set you free and it did. Praise the Lord
Love,
Wanda
Leave a Comment