Why, O Lord, why?

 

Your sweet granddaughter is diagnosed with cancer. Your son announces an impending divorce. Your only mode of transportation keeps breaking down and you just can’t afford a replacement right now of all times.

If you just knew the why. Maybe you could handle it better. Why, O Lord? Why?

Martha and Mary certainly asked that. We read that in John 11:21 and 32. Lord, why didn’t You come when we sent word? Why weren’t You here to keep him (their brother Lazarus) from dying? Why?

But as we enter into the days prior to Holy Week, we see something. Jesus Himself, knew His why - definitely as He knelt in the garden of Gethsemane - but probably long before that. And He experienced the intense pain and suffering of knowing the upcoming intense pain and suffering. Scripture says in Matthew 26 verses 37 through 39… He began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then He said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.”  Going a little farther, He fell on His face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me.

And then, the hardest prayer to ever pray: Yet not as I will, but as You will.” (v.39b)

Jesus suffered. Jesus wept. Jesus pleaded. We don’t see Him looking on the bright side. Thinking pretty, positive thoughts. Focusing solely on the victorious end result. No. Jesus was in deep, profound pain. Overwhelmed. 

And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. (Luke 22:44)

I don’t know if this will help you in whatever painful situation you are in. But may it be of some comfort to know He understands about having to go through intense pain. He understands it is okay to just weep to God and plead with God for a different way. Jesus understands about our need to surrender to the will of God. 

Our hope remains in the Lord.

Psalm 94:17-19 Unless the Lord had helped me, I would have settled in the silence of the grave. I cried out, “Lord, I am slipping!” But Your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, Your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.

There is Someone Who can relate to the depth of your intense pain. He will walk with you. He will walk you through it. For He knows. And He loves you. He is faithful and committed to you.