Why Lord?

I know a man who learned he had cancer and was disappointed with God’s ways.  He told, “I can’t understand why God let this happen to me. I served Him faithfully. I’m not nurturing a secret sin; I’ve taken care of my body. I keep my weight under control. I don’t think I deserve this.”

His protest reminds me of those raised by Job almost 40,000 years ago. He hurled out the word “why” a couple of times,  he even listed ways in which he had been a moral, honest, kind, and loving man but God never answered Job’s questions nor did he this query as it came from the lips of a man however God did  something better. He gave the assurance that He knew why.

Sometimes I can answer the question “why” it is always good to search my heart to see if I bear some blame for my pain. I maybe sick because I did not obeyed common sense rules of health. It is also possible that my illness is the result of God’s chastening because of sin in my life. if I know that I lived disobediently I must repent. God may give me healing when I do, however I often cant find specific answers to my why questions, but God does not leave me completely in the dark. He has shown me that even unexplained suffering has a valuable purpose.

Suffering teaches us to rely on God

Suffering enables us to exercise our faith

Suffering brings rewards

We may not know which reason for suffering fits our situation, but God does.