Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are
suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.
(1Peter 4:12)
Have you ever been in the midst of a raging storm in your life and
asked THE question? You know— the “Why?” question. “God,
why is this happening to me?” I freely admit that I have been
guilty in times past, but then I discovered something that forever
changed my prayer life. I suddenly realized one day that I was
asking the wrong question! The question to life’s painful trials is
not “Why?” but rather “What?” “Lord, what are you teaching
me?” “What are you doing in my life?” “What are you wanting to
show me that I need to see?”
We live by faith, not by sight.
(2 Corinthians 5:7)
The “What?” kind of prayer leads to results. You see, the “Why?”
question is often an expression of distrust. It says, “I don’t
understand you! Therefore since you don’t fit into the perimeter
of my understanding, I don’t trust you.” With few exceptions it’s
human nature to not trust something or someone we don’t
understand. But for the believer, we are called to walk beyond the
human realm. We’re called to “live by faith, not by sight.”
You will get more out of a “What?” question than you will from a
million “Why?” questions. Take Shadrach, Meshach and
Abednego for example. The Bible says that they were bound hand
and foot and then tossed into a furnace. But later when
Nebuchadnezzar looked into the furnace he saw the three men
walking around in the midst of the flames, free and accompanied
by the Son of God. The only thing the fire burned was the very
thing that had them bound!
God didn’t promise us answers…He promised us grace.
Are you in a fire right now? Are you in an intense storm? Rather
than asking God “Why?” ask Him, “What?” “What are you
trying to do in my life, Lord?” James 1:4 gives the final outcome
of adversity “…so that you may be mature and complete, not
lacking anything.” Just remember as you face life’s storms, to ask
the right question. Only then will peace prevail in the midst of
your storm.
suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.
(1Peter 4:12)
Have you ever been in the midst of a raging storm in your life and
asked THE question? You know— the “Why?” question. “God,
why is this happening to me?” I freely admit that I have been
guilty in times past, but then I discovered something that forever
changed my prayer life. I suddenly realized one day that I was
asking the wrong question! The question to life’s painful trials is
not “Why?” but rather “What?” “Lord, what are you teaching
me?” “What are you doing in my life?” “What are you wanting to
show me that I need to see?”
We live by faith, not by sight.
(2 Corinthians 5:7)
The “What?” kind of prayer leads to results. You see, the “Why?”
question is often an expression of distrust. It says, “I don’t
understand you! Therefore since you don’t fit into the perimeter
of my understanding, I don’t trust you.” With few exceptions it’s
human nature to not trust something or someone we don’t
understand. But for the believer, we are called to walk beyond the
human realm. We’re called to “live by faith, not by sight.”
You will get more out of a “What?” question than you will from a
million “Why?” questions. Take Shadrach, Meshach and
Abednego for example. The Bible says that they were bound hand
and foot and then tossed into a furnace. But later when
Nebuchadnezzar looked into the furnace he saw the three men
walking around in the midst of the flames, free and accompanied
by the Son of God. The only thing the fire burned was the very
thing that had them bound!
God didn’t promise us answers…He promised us grace.
Are you in a fire right now? Are you in an intense storm? Rather
than asking God “Why?” ask Him, “What?” “What are you
trying to do in my life, Lord?” James 1:4 gives the final outcome
of adversity “…so that you may be mature and complete, not
lacking anything.” Just remember as you face life’s storms, to ask
the right question. Only then will peace prevail in the midst of
your storm.
| All scripture referances are from the New International Version of the Bible |
