Better Questions

Romans 8:18-21

The creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. (Romans 8:19, ESV)

“WHY IS THIS HAPPENING, Lord? And why is it happening to me?” Countless people have asked these questions in various forms in the midst of their trials, and rarely have they received clear answers. We can certainly understand the sentiment; the human heart wants to understand the mystery behind painful circumstances and how we fit into them. In times of crisis, a sense of guilt may provoke thoughts of divine punishment or discipline, while a sense of privilege or entitlement may provoke indignation over the injustice experienced. We long for some sort of emotional resolution to our hardships.

God rarely answers these questions because they are misdirected toward self and not toward the work he is doing. Every crisis creates an opportunity for him to show something of himself—his power, his provision, his protection, his comfort, his mercy, or any other characteristics of his that intersect with our experience. Our lives, especially the unresolved areas of them, are a platform for his work. Scripture is not entirely a collection of theological musings; more to the point, it’s a collection of stories showing how people experienced their God. Our lives are to write similar stories. We are to showcase who he is.

That’s why the better questions to ask in a difficult season are, “Lord what are you doing in this situation? How do you want to reveal yourself?” Those questions are answered much more often. In the meantime, we need to understand that God is far more interested in our faith than in our understanding. When we believe and God responds to our faith, we become a catalyst for the display of his nature—a foretaste of the revelation of the children of God. History is headed toward a final unveiling, but as with all things in the Kingdom, we have opportunities to bring future things into present experience. The world wants to see the God of power, provision, protection, comfort, mercy, and love in you. In every circumstance, let it.

{Father, you know how easily I become focused on my own situations. Lift my eyes to see beyond them to the work you are doing in my life. Let me be a demonstration of your glory, even—or especially—in my most difficult times. Amen.