Have you ever felt like you just can’t get a grip on all the why questions racing through your mind?

Me too.

Why did God allow me to go through a divorce?

Why would God permit my child to run away and become prodigal?

Why did my mom suffer so long with Alzheimer’s?

Those are just a few.

We all deal with why questions in life.  Questions that we can’t answer and are beyond the scope of our finite understanding.  Questions that, if left unchecked, can erode the foundations of our faith and have us turning our backs on God.

The book of Judges tells the story of a young man who had why questions, too, and reveals God’s wise and empowering response.

Israel had prospered and enjoyed peace for nearly half a century under the leadership of Deborah, prophetess and judge. 

But afterwards, this peaceful season came to an end as the Israelites “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.” (Judges 6:1)

As a result, Israel opened themselves up for oppression, marauding, and pillaging at the hands of their enemies.

The Lord approached Gideon with an invitation – help deliver Israel from the grasp of Midian (the enemy they happened to be up against at that time).

But instead of excitedly jumping at this opportunity, Gideon responded with an anguished why.

“…why has all this happened? Where are all the wonders that our fathers told us about?…the Lord has abandoned us.” (Judges 6:13)

His heart was broken over the oppression of his people and he was looking for answers.

God’s response is not what most of us would expect.

“Go in the strength you have…I am sending you…I will be with you.” (Judges 6:14 & 16)

God didn’t even address the why! Not because He was heartless and didn’t care, but because He knew it was in Gideon’s best interest to move on and look ahead. 

Clearly, it wasn’t necessary for God to expound on all the behind-the-scenes details.  What got the Israelites into this pickle in the first place wasn’t the point.

Gideon trusting God in the present was the point. 

There are countless things in this life that we’ll never fully understand.  Spinning our wheels, blaming God, and getting hung up on the why is a colossal waste of time.

It will always be true that, this side of Heaven, “We don’t yet see things clearly.  We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist…”  (I Corinthians 13:12 MSG)

That’s part of being human.  We won’t know everything; we don’t have all the answers. 

But God does and that’s enough.

And, like Gideon, He invites us to trust Him today and walk out our own purpose and calling.

In the words of American evangelist D.L. Moody, “If we make a full surrender, God will give us something better than we have ever known before.”

Until next time, Grace and Glory!