Still reading from Job, we find Job 38:1 which says, "From out of a storm the Lord said to Job, "why do you talk so much when you know so little?"
"Wow! Job must have sat back on his heels when he heard that! Imagine, Job is fighting for justification having lost everything. His three friends have found him having a pity party. He has plenty of cause, but the friends have not been at all sympathetic. Job believes he had not sinned, therefore God had no reason to "punish" him. Then God comes along and basically says, "You know nothing about why I do what I do, or why I did what I did! Why don't you just be quiet?"
"Job may have been the most righteous of all men and totally undeserving of his burdens, but it rains on both the just and the unjust. Yet we usually question God, "Why me?"
"Perhaps someday we will get a chance to ask God that question. But while we are on this earth, the question "why me?" only frustrates us and leads us to bitterness, because there is no answer. It's really tough to understand, but the question, "Why not me?" leads us to acceptance. Acceptance is a part of grace and God offers grace with every burden.
Now, many years after writing this, I can see clearly that each of us have difficulties to accept. Instead of wondering "why?", I believe God teaches us more and more how to trust him in spite of what we are going through. Each hardship should lead us closer to the heart of God. Out of our need, we find Him. When we are suffering, we need Him the most, and our need drives us straight to His heart. Hardship draws us to God and out of our need, we find Him.
God, I pray to remember always your past kindnesses when my life becomes burdensome. I appeal to you for your continued grace and may I witness your grace and believe it no matter what. Amen.
Jo INMN
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