Chapter 15: Why? Why? Why?

O Lord … not too long ago one of my best friends fell very ill after she went out to dinner. Some kind of virus got into her nervous system. She lay unconscious for weeks. When she finally came through, she became partially paralyzed.

Since she was a good Christian whose faith was known to all who knew her, one word kept popping up among those who visited her at the hospital. “Why?” Others, “Why does it happen to someone like her?” “Why does God allow such a terrible thing to happen to a faithful person like her?” …

Another friend who was a new convert like me asked me the same question. “Frankly my friend, I don’t know the answer myself.” I answered. For several days my heart was troubled by the same question, and even more so because of another reason. Why is it that every time something bad happens, people blame it on God? Why do people think that God was the one who caused my friend to be paralyzed?

I looked at my own life. Though I suffered beyond words for the past decades, I never once blamed God. I analyze that every person who is born to this world must go through suffering in one form or the other. What then are the causes of our suffering? Here is my own conclusion.

1. Other people cause us to suffer.
2. We make ourselves suffer.
3. Things beyond our control such as natural disasters, wars, diseases make us suffer.

I told my friend that the reason why she got so sick was that she must have
eaten something contaminated with that deadly type of virus that destroyed part of her nerve. God didn’t put the virus into her body! So, she should stop blaming God. My explanation somewhat calmed her and other friends down.

At the same token a lot of people believe that once they proclaim they have ‘faith’ in God, their lives will be protected from all evils, all bad fortunes, and all disappointments. That’s why once they do not get what they pray for, they will waste no time in questioning God’s existence. “If God is real, why doesn’t He grant me my wish?” There it goes…

My Lord, from my own experience I’ve learned that as our Father, You know better than us, Your foolish children. You will give and grant us our wishes if and when You think is appropriate, when it’s Your will. Not our will. If we the foolish children realize this fact, we’ll be granted our wish every time we ask from You! This is the test of our faith.

Thank You, my Lord. There is no more “Why?” from me.
My faith in You is profound and unconditional.

"...that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” James 1:3

"...faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:17

Amen.

A Child of God