When You Want to Know “WHY”
I walked around the living room at a fast pace. I was circling the room with no destination in mind. I couldn’t think clearly with all the thoughts bombarding me all at once. This was a time in my life when I felt like there were so many questions and no real tangible answers to grab hold of.
I wanted to trust God and know that He was in control, but on this particular day I was at a loss. Confusion seemed to fill my heart, mind and soul. I made my final lap around the ottoman when I cried out to the Lord.
“Why, Lord? What are you doing?”
Sometimes the events of life bring unanswered questions that make us want to scream, cry out, and beg God for an explanation. The pressure of the unknown bears down so hard that it seems impossible to see beyond the reality of the moment. Ultimately you know in your heart that God has a purpose and a plan, but when answers are so far in the distance that they cannot be grasped, it’s difficult to rest in the in-between.
You rationalize the possibilities by playing out every scenario in your mind. If this happens, I’ll do this. If that happens, I’ll have to do that. If it all continues to fall apart, I don’t know what I’ll do. If things go awry I’ll just have to…
We take control of what we don’t even know. We tell God what we’ll do and what we won’t do. We act as though we are producing our own story and like we have complete control of our lives. When the unanswered questions loom heavy over head like they did for me that day in the living room, we end up walking in circles with no direction. It’s like we want to continue moving forward but we are spinning instead.
When I think back on that day, I remember crying out to God. I remember feeling alone in the living room wondering where God was and why He wasn’t coming through for me. Finally, I dropped to my knees and I gave up. I stopped trying, and I stopped pushing forward.
Here’s what I learned:
1. God is writing the story, not me. When I finally submitted to God’s purpose even though I didn’t know what it was, I sensed His presence with me.
2. Stop running in circles. Sometimes I wear myself out by frantically pacing the floor, when God is telling me, “BE STILL.”
3. I was created to worship, not worry. Unanswered questions are usually the first thing to set me on the fast track to worry and confusion. When I cannot rationalize it in my mind, I worry. In the seasons of the unknowns, God is teaching me to worship rather than worry.
4. When I wonder where God is, I should go back to where I’ve found Him before. The moments that bring me to my knees are many times the memorable moments filled with God’s presence, conviction, and comfort. It’s not that God shows me the final outcome or that He gives me a huge revelation, but it’s a place where God says, “I’m here.”
Sometimes the unanswered questions are never answered and the purpose is not revealed. I’m learning in the midst of the unknowns and in-betweens that God has a message for you and for me in every season. You might not be pacing the floor, or dropping to your knees, but the unknowns are sure to find you at some point.
When they do it’s time to remember that you’re not writing the story. So stop running. Worship. And go back to where you’ve found God before. His presence is accessible and His peace is possible even in the in-between.
Love & Blessings,
Micah
If you are in the midst of unanswered questions, I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Maybe you have survived some events that have left you with unanswered questions, but God has given you peace beyond the unknown – share your experience with us in the comments to encourage someone who might be struggling. You never know who is having a rough week.
Page with Comments
Comments are closed.
Why? I have been crying out in tears for a long time! God Almighty PLEASE rescue me!!! I can leave my past and move forward but, there are people who refuse to allow me to do that. It seems they want me to always remember the evil I did when I was a child. I wonder if there were people who told the apostle Paul to never forget what he did? Please pray that the Lord deals with these people who refuse to allow me to move forward in Christ and grow in the grace that He has for me, and that He will tell me that it’s OK! That everything WILL be alright!
The accuser is always on the war path to continue to bring up past sin. Confess, and forsake. God forgives and says it’s as far as the east is from the west. Continue to seek God and accept the forgiveness offered. You do not need to worry about God dealing with others, only you. As you accept the forgiveness and move forward in God’s grace, He will give you the strength to move forward in spite of continual attack. Only God can offer you the deliverance you desire, not man.
I feel I could’ve written this post myself! This last year and a half or so I have lived this scenario over and over. Asking God why…telling Him how “good” I’ve been, so why would He allow ME and my family to go through THIS?! It took time, but these steps that you’ve mentioned are exactly what have gotten me through…and are STILL getting me through. He knows the future. He will provide. He understands. I can’t wait to see how He works this situation our for our good and HIS glory. Thanks for being transparent. Love your posts!
I’m so thankful you have seen God work and I hope you will continue to seek Him through this season. His glory will prevail!
This is playing out right now in my life. Going through a difficult season and all I could think for the longest time was this isn’t fair, y is this happening to me, what can I do to fix this, even though through it all I KNEW God was telling me just b still and wait on Me! I tried so hard to do any and everything I could think of to just make everything ok again but nothing changed in fact it just kept getting worse and worse! When I finally realized what I was doing or better yet not doing, trusting God and putting it all in His hands, my situation literally changed in a matter of hours! Suddenly I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! Once I truly believed that God was taking care of me and using my situation for good and to bring me closer to Him it’s like I could finally see clearly! No matter what we r going through and no matter how alone we feel God is always there! He is always watching over us and always “working behind the scenes” to draw us closer to Him! No matter what happens in life as long as we keep believing and never give up hope everything will work out for our good, Jeremiah 29:11! It might not always look how we thought it would or how we wanted it to but God always knows what we need and when we need it! He always takes care of us!
Amen! How lovely to hear your experience! Thank you, Jayna for sharing!
Words that made me hold my breath…and then as you brought out our hope, sigh a big sigh of relief. Micah you capture this emotion so well. The simple image of pacing around and around- until you fall to your knees- is familiar to me. Praying these words of yours come back to me the next time I’m there, because what you have to say here is such comfort and gets me right to Him. Love it, love it. Blessings on your week, Micah!
Thank you, Bethany! I pray you have a blessed week as well!
Asking for prayer, please! What belief and faith I have left is very shaky. I have no self control and even when I cry out for God and try to pray my mind continually goes back to my broken heart and ways to get myself out of the deep, dark pit of depression and desperation. I can’t go on living like this and don’t want to! I flip flop between striving to pray, read Scripture and Christian books and devotionals – to trying to do things MY way, only to cause more pain and rejection and failure. I don’t know what else to do! Thanking you in advance for your prayers ♡
Covering you in prayer today! It would be good to find someone in your spiritual community to speak with that can pray for you and encourage you. If you don’t know someone, pray for God to bring you someone. Sometimes when I don’t know what else to do, it’s the exact time that God proves His presence to me in ways I never imagined before. Continue seeking Him with all your heart. If depression is a continual problem please seek help from a medical professional. There is nothing wrong with getting help! Prayers for you today!!!
Great post, neighbor. Everything gets easier when we let go of trying to find reasons to everything. Trusting God brings peace. Thank you. Blessings to you!
Yes! It’s that letting go part that’s difficult isn’t it.
Replace worry with worship. That’s brilliant. I share your pace around the ottoman. Last week at this time, I was pulling myself together after crying to my Bible Study girls. There’s so many things about life that are just hard. Not unnormal…just hard. Marriage is super hard for me right now. Super hard. Writing is hard right now…because I can’t see the end goal. I don’t know what it is. There’s no publishing guarantee or money to afford conference attending …right now, all I’ve got, “Be mom, and just write.” I’m with you in the “hard.” Thank you for reminding me to replace worry with worship. Don’t forget to look back and witness His faithfulness. Happy Monday!!!
Megs
Meg, I get it. “Be mom and write.” Don’t underestimate that calling for this season. Happy Monday, girl! Keep on in this season, it won’t last forever.
Thank you, Micah! Happy Tuesday!!!
I think you’ve zeroed in on the hardest part of the Christian life — especially when you are hearing lots of testimonies about how God is specifically leading other people in known paths. It’s easy to question our faith or our connection to God. Thanks for being so transparent here. Seasons of unknowing reveal things to us about ourselves and our walk with God that we would not learn any other way!
Michele, I think it’s amazing how God so clearly reveals Himself in the most uncertain circumstances. Our God is amazing!
Beautiful thoughts, Micah! We forget when we are desperate that letting go of our own agenda will bring us to the very place we need to be- with God! You describe it very well and the image of turning to worship is freeing as well as comforting to me. Thank you for sharing the practical within your own challenges. Blessings!
Thanks for reading, Mary! And for your insight and kind words!
I think there is a hidden trap in the question “why”. It’s as if we believe that God owes us an explanation, rather than resting in quiet trust in who He is. And that, I think, is the essence of true faith… believing, even when we don’t know the answer to “why.”
Karen! I love your take on this! Yes, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 Thanks so much for putting is so plainly!
Beautiful Micah! I love the way you pull us right into the living room with you. Great reminder that it IS God’s story.
Thank you, Laura! Oh how I need the constant reminder that it is ALL about HIM!
Worship, not worry. I love that!
It encourages my heart to know someone else “gets” it. It’s not easy, and I actually struggled this week to totally live it, but when I find myself worrying, God is reminding me to worship, worship, worship. Oh how worthy He is!
Thank you for your lovely encouragement and the much needed reminder to “be still”.
You are so welcome. I need this reminder daily. Have a blessed week!
Yes! “When we wonder where God is we have to go back to where we found Him before.” Remembering a time when He showed His faithfulness despite my doubts and fears, or when He exercised His sovereign power on my behalf,provided and blessing, or when He answered a prayer… these things have the power to give us courage in whatever circumstance we find ourselves.
Yes, constantly remembering gives me the hope and peace I need to make it each day. God is faithful!
Amen! There IS strength in being still. Good encouragement, Micah. Visiting via #thoughtprovokingThursdays
Hi Kristi, it’s so good to see you here! I’m learning more and more to find strength in weakness, quiet, and stillness. God is here right in the middle of the places I fall short.
Your words are always so full of grace and wisdom! Thank you, Micah!
You’re so encouraging! You know who gets the glory for every word. Only by God’s grace and power.
This was exactly the kind of encouragement I needed today, Micah! Thank you for writing this post. <3 Resting in HIM and Him alone today.
This is what I need to hear right now. Thankyou for your encouragement! Thanking God for your life, Continue to glorify him with your writing. ? is it okay if I repost this? ☺
Of course!
I have been begging God for answers for better than 2 years and wonder daily where He is. This brought tears to my eyes. I feel the situation I’m in is so far out of control and tangled it will never be fixed. My faith has been shaken because of this situation. I pray daily and see no progress. I’m at a total loss. The best I get is wait, faith, trust. I just don’t know what to wait for anymore and no answers are forthcoming and it has depressed me beyond belief.
I’m so sorry for what you have and are experiencing. Sometimes the answer is simply to cling to God, to cry out to Him, to seek Him – although that’s not what we want to hear especially when our world seems to be crumbling. In this world we will have pain and struggles, and sometimes they will never be fixed. I would encourage you to seek a professional biblical counselor so you can begin to work through some of your thoughts and feelings with someone to help you.