Asking 'Why?'

By Bonnie Ricks, This Day's Devotional Saturday, June 27, 2009

Acts 12:1-18 NIV

Why did God allow James to be executed, and yet Peter was saved? Both of them were devoted servants of their Master. Both of them could have been great leaders in the early church. Why did God allow James' life to be cut short, while Peter went on living?

Why does God allow one child to be born deformed and another whole? Why does God allow a young person who seems to have great potential to be killed in a car accident, and another young person who seems to be totally worthless to go on living? Why does God allow one person to be wealthy and another to be poor, especially when both people seem to have the same strong faith, the same devotion to Jesus?

These questions and the infinite number of questions just like them are ones that are asked over and over again, by both believers and non-believers alike. And these are questions that you and I are incapable of answering. Because you and I cannot see everything that God sees. We cannot understand everything that He understands. We cannot know His eternal purpose in everything that happens. He has a plan. He knows the whole plan. He has allowed evil to exist in this world for a time. Why? Only God knows. Perhaps it is for the same reason that God never seems to use "perfect" people to accomplish His will, but instead uses the imperfect so that His hand will be obvious in the workings of the world.

Each time you're tempted to ask "Why?" - remember this. God has a plan. You don't know the whole plan. Sometimes, if we're blessed, He allows us to understand the reasons behind what He does. sometimes He doesn't. but in everything, His perfect will is being accomplished, no matter how illogical the circumstances, no matter how bad things seem to be. Bad things happen to good people. Good things happen to bad people. Good behavior is not always rewarded. Bad behavior is not always punished. But in everything, God's will is being accomplished. In all things, faith and trust in God are the only things that will carry you and me through.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 NIV

Used with Permission