Why Me, Lord?

 By Andrea Merrell

 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28 NIV

 

We’ve all said it, or at least thought it, at some point in our life: Why me, Lord?

Why am I so sick? Why didn’t I get that promotion? My family is dysfunctional. My finances are upside-down. My best friend betrayed me. Why me, Lord? Why, why, why?

As we get older, we realize we are actually doing something we teach our kids not to do—whining. We get so focused on ourselves and what’s going on, or not going on, in our lives that we lose our perspective.

Perhaps what we should be saying when things go haywire is, Lord, what are you trying to teach me through this situation? Chris Tiegreen says:

Our circumstances almost always have the potential to be a platform for a revelation of some aspect of His nature—His compassion, comfort, power, deliverance, protection, provision, or anything else. Our situations—especially the hard ones—are specifically designed to become a stage for His glory.

There are aspects of life we’ll never understand from ground level. That’s okay; God is much more interested in your ability to trust Him than in your ability to understand Him. He loves your intellect, but He’s going after your loyalty first. When you can stop focusing on your predicament and anticipate His provision, things begin to happen. Never let a crisis drive you away from Him; let it draw you closer. He’s waiting to meet you in the middle of it and show something of Himself.

Are you smack dab in the middle of a predicament? Instead of saying why me, Lord? Try saying what’s next, Lord? Show me your glory. He will.

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Stuart Miles.)

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When we stop focusing on our predicament and anticipate God’s provision, things begin to happen. Never let a crisis drive you away from Him. via @AndreaMerrell (Click to tweet.)

 

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Why Me?

By Andrea Merrell

If you’re like most people, the first question that pops into your head when a crisis hits is “Why me?” Whether it’s a car accident, sickness, or unexpected expense, it’s hard to look at the situation objectively when trying to analyze the problem and figure out why it happened to us in the first place.

Life happens. God never promised us that things would be perfect and free of difficulties. What He did promise was His wisdom, comfort, and never-ending presence in our lives.

Too many times—when we finish whining, crying, and complaining—we run to the pastor, a counselor, or a trusted friend. Those things are fine, but we should first consult the One who can part the waters, turn water into wine, and even raise the dead. He has the ultimate solution to anything we could ever face, from the smallest inconvenience to the worst catastrophe imaginable. The best part is that He knows the problem inside/out, from beginning to end, and everything in between. He is the ultimate problem solver.

I met a wonderful lady at a writers’ conference recently who had been through a terrible ordeal with her health. She was not angry, depressed, or defeated. Her attitude toward her problems was inspiring. When I asked how she was able to keep such a positive outlook, she simply said, “I don’t say Why, Lord? I say ... What’s next?

I think I’ll try that from now on. How about you?

(Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.)

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Don't say, "Why me, Lord?" Say ... "What's next?" via @AndreaMerrell (Click to Tweet.)

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