Why me?

“Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars, stretching his wings toward the south?” (Job 39:26, NASB)

‘Why me?’ is a good question. One that many of us ask several times in our lives.

Asking ‘Why me?’ is a common question when we believe something bad has happened to us. Especially when we don’t believe we’ve done anything to warrant what has happened. A sense of unfairness comes to mind, doesn’t it?

The book of Job deals with the question of ‘Why me?’.

Many of us have read of Job’s suffering documented in the book of Job. There are so many lessons for us in that book. Today, I want to focus on one.

God knows when we hurt.

Job experienced catastrophic suffering. He lost just about everything but his life. The account of his losses is disturbing. Four times, in rapid succession, messengers came to tell Job he had lost one thing after another. First, his oxen and donkeys, along with some servants. Then his sheep and more servants. Then camels and even more servants. And finally, all of Job’s children. And, if that was not enough, God gave Satan permission to afflict Job’s health.

Before all that, Job simply lived his life.

A good life, at that. The Bible tells us that Job was a true servant of God. God described him as “blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1:8, NIV). Job had done nothing to cause his calamity.

Seems that’s the way bad things happen sometimes, doesn’t it? We’re living life and one day, everything changes. A knock at the door. A phone call. A text. For some of you, the thought makes you shudder. For others, it’s more than a thought, it’s a memory.

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When we get that notification, we’re likely going to have to deal with what’s on the other side. A friend or relative on the other side of the door giving us some unwanted news. That’s the way I got the news years ago that my father had died. My brother-in-law and brother drove an hour and a half and knocked on my door. Maybe we get a call from our physician about our health. Or a text from a friend about another friend.

As we work through the news and whatever follows, Satan tempts us to feel alone. Even though everyone around us means well, they don’t understand. Sure, maybe they’ve had similar situations in their lives, but not this specific situation. Their life is not your life. Their family is not your family. We even wonder if God understands.

God understands.

The book of Job tells us that God knew exactly what was happening before Job lost everything. In Job’s case, not only did He know it, but He allowed it. He understood what was at stake for Job. Being outside of time, God somehow knew before it happened, while it happened, and what would occur after it happened. He is well aware of your situation, too.

Job didn’t understand. His friends didn’t understand. God eventually had to silence them all and make a point. We will not understand. However, if we’ve accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we now have a relationship with the One who does. We have hope in knowing our lives are in the hands of the Almighty God. A God who loves us and desires the best for us.

By Job’s example, we see we live in a fallen world. Satan is active. He can’t contend with God, so he spends his time driving a wedge between God and His creation. Don’t let him. Hold to God, who understands and knows when we hurt.

In Job 39:26, God reminds Job that not only does Job not understand the hawk’s soaring and flying to warmer weather, he surely doesn’t cause it. Neither do we. We, like Job, must rely on the One who does.

I’d love to hear how you’ve handled that knock, call, or text. What do you do to get past the question ‘Why me’?

Today’s feature photo comes from a “photo-a-day” challenge I pursued several years ago. The photo inspires the topic. For me, the posts challenge my creativity, writing discipline, and dependence on God for His message. My prayer is that you find hope in God’s Word, and that you’ll share your hope with others.