Fresh Mannaby Pastor Tim Burt
I think one of the most challenging parts of my job as a pastor has been watching people go through difficult seasons of life. The enemy of this world, Satan—whom Jesus called “the thief who comes to kill, steal, and destroy”—works overtime to bring hardship into our lives. We know this. We’ve all had our moments. My heart breaks when I see people experience sickness, disease, calamity, or lack that devastates their hearts and lives, sending them into an emotional tailspin. In those moments, many utter the words, Why God? Why me? Why is this happening to me?”Most of the destruction and hurt in our lives happens for one of three primary reasonsThe first reason stems from poor choices. God is always willing and wanting to speak to us, but He often speaks softly. When we are seekers of God, spending daily time in His Word, it becomes easier to discern His voice. Too often, however, we behave like a child glued to the TV, seemingly deaf to a parent’s attempts to get their attention. God speaks softly and expects us to seek Him. Yet, even when we sense God’s warning, we sometimes ignore it.I knew a man who recently passed away far too young from a massive heart attack. He was significantly overweight, and his doctor had urged him to lose weight for years. His wife later shared that God had been convicting him about his health, but he kept putting it off. Tragically, his choices or lack of better choices, caught up with him.Years ago, I counseled a man who began flirting with a coworker, thinking it was harmless fun. He admitted that God had been warning him to stop, but he was confident he wouldn’t cross any lines. He was wrong. The situation escalated into an affair, destroying his marriage and family. He came to me in the aftermath, devastated, asking, “Why me, God? Why is this happening to me?” I had to gently but truthfully tell him that blaming God was avoiding responsibility for his own actions. God had been trying to protect him all along. As Jeremiah 32:33 (NLT) says: “My people have turned their backs on me and refused to return. Even though I diligently taught them, they would not receive instruction or obey.”The second reason is a wrong perception of who God is. Many people think God is too busy to care about them or that they are too insignificant for Him to notice. These are lies born of ignorance. God wants to hear your prayers. He cares about every detail of your life and desires to give you wisdom to walk through life with His grace and favor. As Philippians 4:6 (NIV) reminds us: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”God also longs to be close and intimate with you. James 4:8 (NKJV) says: “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” Yet, when we lack understanding of God’s love, we may grow indifferent or fearful, missing out on the love and help He offers. Hosea 4:6 (KJV) says:“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”Ignorance of God’s ways often leads to destructive choices. For instance, many people think it’s harmless to engage in sexual relationships outside of marriage. But ignorance doesn’t shield them from the consequences—unplanned pregnancies or sexually transmitted diseases are often the fallout. When the fallout occurs, they cry out, “Why me, God?” Yet it is not God’s doing; it’s the result of ignoring His protective boundaries.Isaiah 53:6 (NIV) warns us: “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way.” When we chart our own course apart from God, we forfeit His love, direction, instruction, and help.The third reason for much of the destruction and hurt in people’s lives is ignorance of the enemy of their soul. Many do not believe in Satan, or they see him as a myth. This is exactly what he wants, as it allows him to shift the blame for destruction onto God.Satan hates all of humanity because we are created in God’s image. Jesus warned us in John 10:10 that Satan “is the thief who comes to kill, steal, and destroy.” Satan delights in our suffering and confusion. By convincing people he doesn’t exist, he prevents them from recognizing the spiritual battle they are in. In their darkest moments, they cry out, “Why me, God? Why is this happening to me?” when the true culprit is the enemy of their soul.These are the three primary reasons why people cry out, “Why me, God?” We’ll explore more about these reasons and their implications next time.1 Thessalonians 4:13; 5:11 (NLT) “And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers... so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.... So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”
In His love,Pastor Tim Burt
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