Why Lord?
By Benedict, 19, Singapore
“Hear my prayer, O Lord,
And give ear to my cry;
Do not be silent at my tears;
For I am a stranger with You;
A sojourner, as all my fathers were.
Remove Your gaze from me, that I may
Regain strength,
Before I go away and am no more.”
—Psalms 39:12-13
We, like David, often seem to be in a spiritual turmoil. On one hand, we feel estranged from God and yet on the other hand, we feel that God is too close for comfort.
Why do we feel estranged from a loving God? Is it because our God distances Himself from us? More often than not, as we search ourselves, we would discover that it is not due to proximity but because we don’t understand God’s ways, or at least not sufficiently enough to make us comfortable. God is always Emmanuel (“God with us”), but He is not a God who thinks like us. We just can’t grasp the higher ways of God. Whenever we can, that is God’s grace.
And when God disciplines us, we would rather that He “remove (His) gaze from (us).” He is too close for comfort. We like status quo because change is uncomfortable. We like to remain in our comfort zone because sanctification is painful.
I personally had days when “why” was the main conversation-word between me and God. I feel that God should have spoken by now and changed the landscape of my circumstance and yet He is deafeningly silent about the trials and tribulations He has allowed in my life. I feel His “gaze” (which burns me, sometimes, because He is ultimately the refining fire) upon me. How do I deal with these feelings?
The answer? David gave it in verse 7. He asks, “And now, Lord, what do I wait for?” And he replies, “My hope is in You.”
We ask “why” because we feel anxious or even hopeless about the outcomes of our situations, so much so that we might wonder if God’s good purpose for us is being fulfilled through them. And yet, when you and I can’t comprehend the good will of God, we could still make Him our hope—our sure expectation of good. Because, God equals good.
He will never disappoint.
Tweet This
Share on Facebook
Digg This
Save to delicious
Stumble it
RSS FeedRelated
Why Does Everything Have To Be So Hard?
By Betty Wambui, Kenya This is a question that all of us have asked ourselves at some point in our lives. Choices were presented and the main ones were: to give up or to keep on hoping. Many times, I have wanted to choose to throw in the white towel because I convince myself that [...]
ODJ: groundhog day
April 15, 2010 Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith (Galatians 6:10). READ: Groundhog Day, one of my favorite movies, is a comedy featuring Phil Connors, a self-centered, arrogant TV weatherman. After being forced to take on a much-hated assignment—covering the annual Groundhog [...]
ODJ: waiting for rain
January 18, 2011 Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem! Rejoice in the Lord your God! For the rain He sends demonstrates His faithfulness. Once more the autumn rains will come, as well as the rains of spring (v.23). READ: Joel 2:18-32 Competing against the thwap-thwap sound of the windshield wipers, the rain beat a rhythmic pattern against [...]
remembered prayers
May 8, 2009 The angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God!” (v.4). READ: Acts 10:1-8 With a brief history as the capital of Honduras, Amapala is a small village located on Tiger Island. The beautiful landscape is a façade that hides its spiritual darkness. Amapala has only one church [...]
Christian Courses
Day Of Discovery
Discover The Word
Discovery Series
Help For My Life
My Utmost For His Highest
Our Daily Bread
Our Daily Journey
RBC Ministries
WarungSateKaMu
Manasociety
雅米
that was good i have a question for you guys i have been born again several times each time i backslide and i dont know how it happens i really need to have a walk with christ help me please
I would love to help in any way possible. It would be ideal if you could ask an older Christian whom you feel comfortable with, whom you come into frequent contact with, to help you as well. God bless!
I have a great tip for you! Pray to God and ask him any question you have including the one you posted and He will give you an answer. After you pray though, you should be patient and wait for God to tell you at the right time.
Hi Benedict, thanks for the sharing, I like the part on how to explain the feeling of enstrangment. Humbled once again to realize that indeed we cannot comprehend his thought. I should stop trying, because I feel lousy when I am unable to comprehend, but God did not mean for me to understand him totally before I can know him.