Why God?

We are one the road traveling back from a very short visit with family in Arkansas (post on that later). I brought Calm My Anxious Heart by: Dillow to read. I turned to the chapter entitled Trusting God with the Why's. It really ministered to me, so I thought I'd share. The following is some text from the book combined with my own writing and edits.

Many people today are concerened about the growing violence in the United States. Every day we read about crime, drugs, alcoholism, and murder. People fear going out in the darkness, and parents have to be cautious of their children's every move. Rape, sexual abuse, and perversion have escalated to mammouth proportions.

I can't recall a time I've been more concerned about the dangers of this "earthly life" than now. The recent abduction and brutal murder of a little girl less than 6 miles from my home has put a lot of fear into me and has rocked our charming community. The Devil is alive and is accomplishing his purpose. No area of this world is safe from him.

Many, like myself, are asking, "Why, God? It seems as if you are not working." These are similar to the questions Habakkuk asked in chapter 1 verses 2-4 and 12-13.

"O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
and you will not hear?
Or cry to you “Violence!”
and you will not save?
Why do you make me see iniquity,
and why do you idly look at wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me;
strife and contention arise.
So the law is paralyzed,
and justice never goes forth.
For the wicked surround the righteous;
so justice goes forth perverted."

"Are you not from everlasting,
O Lord my God, my Holy One?
We shall not die.
O Lord, you have ordained them as a judgment,
and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof.
You who are of purer eyes than to see evil
and cannot look at wrong,
why do you idly look at traitors
and remain silent when the wicked swallows up
the man more righteous than he?"

But, God doesn't always explain why. This is often frustrating. God is God and He doesn't need to explain Himself. If we could fully comprehend God, He wouldn't be God. So, we have to trust. Trust Him with what we don't understand. Trust Him with what does not make sense. To walk in the dark while holding God's hand. To "live by faith." Sometimes, our wait will last until we meet Jesus in heaven.

It is possible to praise God though, while our body is aching. I pray my faith and trust will increase through this trying time in our community and that I will be able to declare what Habakkuk declared now and in the future when I am struggling with other things (tomorrow it may be Carter - we have 2 appts).

"Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
God, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer's;
he makes me tread on my high places."

Try this: Fill in the THOUGH's based on your circumstance...

Though a child was abducted very close to my home
Though she was found dismembered
Though her predator is still on the loose
Though I am in fear for my children's safety

"Yet, I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
God, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer's;
he makes me tread on my high places."

I pray for this little girl's family and I pray that my eyes will be lifted off of this event and onto the Blessed Controller of all things and the Protector of my children.

Are you going to judge God by circumstances you can't understand, or judge the circumstances in light of the character of God?