I Don't Know Why?

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Why? Such a simple question. At times, it is the only one that occupies our minds, especially when we are going through hard times. When tragedy and hard times befall us, we so often look for the meaning in the madness. However, the truth is that rarely, if ever, do we learn the reasons why things happen. 

The book of Job is, perhaps, one of the more well-known narratives from the Old Testament. It is about the righteous man, Job. The devil maintains that Job is only righteous and God-fearing because he has a good life, a large family, and great wealth. God maintains that Job would remain righteous and God-fearing even if all these things were taken away. Job then has everything taken away from him. His family, his wealth, and his health are all ripped away as he is left to suffer. He rues the day that he was born, but Job does not curse God. 

As the book goes on, the reason for his suffering becomes the focus of conversation between him and his friends. Different purposes are proposed by each of Job’s friends before he refutes them. Job becomes increasingly consumed with the question of why. Why was he forced to suffer?
Especially since it was no fault of his own. Near the end of the book, God himself addresses Job’s query. Job never learns why he suffers. He only learns that such things are beyond him. Thankfully, Job never stopped trusting God, even when he didn’t know “why.” Job is ultimately restored. He has more children and gains more wealth than he ever had. 

Job 38:4-5 says:

”Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?” 

God’s reasons are beyond us and our understanding. Every action and thought we have holds a million possible consequences that are entirely outside of our immediate viewpoint. God sees the whole picture in a way we never can. We may never know the full reason behind why things happen, but we can control how we respond to them. Like Job, we can ensure that we remain righteous and God-fearing despite our circumstances.


Ryan Tack is the
Minister to Teens at
Generations of Grace
in Lebanon, TN.

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