the answer to "why?"

Romans 5:3-5
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

What's the #1 question on the mind of every person going through a trial? One word - WHY?
"Why is this happening?"
"Why is this happening now?"
"why is this happening to me? Why?"

As a pastor, I've learned these questions countless times from people who have bruised and battered themselves looking for the elusive answer.

Let me save you a lot of pain and heartache. GOd doesn't answer every "why" question, but he does answer the right one! SOme questions he doesn't answer include, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" or "Why is the world like it is?" Ask if you want, but you'll feel as if you're in an echo chmaber - all you'll hear is a ringing silence.

God also does not answer other big questions like "Where is my life going?" or "Where will all this end?" Here's another "why" he doesn't answer: "You had better tell me what's going on, or I'm not going to be part of this." We can't threaten God or give him ultimatums. Threats don't scare or motivate him a bit.

You may be wondering, Well, what kind of wisdom will He give? The "why" questions that God loves to hear and answer are,
"Lord, why am I going through this? What are you trying to teach me today?"
"God what kind of person do you want me to be?"
"How do you want to use this circumstance to produce the righteiousness of Jesus in me today?"

James 1:5 tells us how willing GOd is to help us with those kind of "why" questions.
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."

Notice that GOd gives that kind of wisdom generously and without reproach. The word reproach literally means he won't sink his teeth into the person who asks. God never shouts, "Why are you asking me that?!!" It's more like: "I'm so glad you finally asked me why I've allow this." God wants to give you wisdom regarding the specifics of how he's working in you

by: James macdonald, walkintheworld.com