Why Not Me?

“Look on my right hand and see, For there is no one who acknowledges me; Refuge has failed me; No one cares for my soul.”

Psalm 142:4  


I was going to title this devotional, “Why Bad Things Happen To Good People” but that title seemed too long and overused, so I settled for “Why Not Me?” From the prayer requests I receive weekly and conversations I am privileged to have with those who are seeking help and encouragement in wading through their personal struggles I understand the confusion most of us feel when we have been dealt a painful blow in life. If we are honest, more often then not our first thought is, “why me” because God knows us so well He provides the support we are in need of in His Word.

We learn in James 1:2-4 the purpose of trials when Jesus half brother penned these words, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” I appreciated what one author wrote regarding the impact of trials in the lives of God’s kids, “People who are becoming love understand God guides us into uncomfortable places because He knows most of us are too afraid to seek them out ourselves.” Some of us might be “gluttons for punishment” as the old saying goes but that doesn’t mean we like pain. We know we need to change, and most of us want to change but when changing involves hurt, we prefer it in really small doses, and I mean really small.

If there is one thing I wish I could share with every person going through a painful experience its this. Never forget that God doesn’t allow trials to happen to mess with our heads; He uses life’s circumstances to shape our hearts. God knows difficulties and hardship and ambiguity are what cause us to grow closer to Him because its in the midst of our trials we are reminded of our absolute dependence upon Him. So, here is the million dollar question for the day. How do we know when a trial has served God’s purpose in our life? What I have learned from my own trials is this. We know we are growing in our faith and that the trial we are in is shaping us the way God would have it when we are able to say to God “why not me” instead of “why me” when we fall into various trials.

Nothing encourages me more than talking with someone who has gone through a life altering experience and who shares with me how after the wounds heal and the dust of the impact settles they can say without hesitation, “I wouldn’t change a thing.” Only a person who has seen the hand of God for themselves and who has known the comfort of the Lord like they had not previously known can say that. It’s difficult to say, “why me” when the trials have helped you to grow closer to the Lord and to become more dependent upon Him. My hope and prayer is simple. May each of us be able to say in advance “why not me” when the trials of life come our way knowing that the Lord Himself will be right there with us every step along the way!

 
“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”

Philippians 1:6  


I LOVE YOU!