WHY? AND HOW?

     Have you noticed that life is not easy?  Often unfair?  And doesn’t always make sense?  When we face tragedy and loss like we have seen in our community we wonder why?  Why has this happened?  The truth is the why question has been asked for centuries and no clear answer has come.  I mean we know that we live in a fallen world and bad things happen to good people and life does not always add up.  We are reminded almost daily that this is earth, not heaven.  I have discovered that while God did not promise to tell us why things happen the way they do, He has promised to walk with us through every circumstance of life if we trust Him.  I have also learned that while God is not in the business of explaining, He is in the business of sustaining us.  While we want to know why, I don’t’ think knowing the why’s of life would ease our pain but I know God can help us through our pain.    
     So I am not going to give a pastoral answer to the why question (because I don’t have all the answers), I will tell you what I do know.  I know that God cares.  He cares about our pain, He cares about our loss and He cares about our tears.  David the psalmist, who himself knew pain and loss in life said this “The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”  It seems that the best thing we can do with our questions, pain, hurt, anger and loss is to give them to the Lord.  When you are in pain, tell Him.  When you hurt, share it with Him.  When you are angry, (even at Him) let Him know.  By the way, it won’t shock Him, He already knows.  You might say, pastor I can’t tell God what I really think it might offend Him.  Listen, He already knows how you feel and He can handle the hard questions, read the minor prophets they told God exactly how they felt.  Let Him know about your loss, He can bring healing.
     I think the best thing we can do is keep the line of communication open between ourselves and God, spend time in His word, and get around people who can be agents of God’s love and healing to us.
     The other question that I have asked of me in times of crisis is the how question.  Something like, “Pastor, I have a friend that is going through this crisis, or tragedy or loss in life and I don’t know what to say to them or how to help them.  While I do not claim to be an expert on this subject, I would make three suggestions that I think will help.
     First, BE PRESENT.  Your presence in the lives of those who are hurting is important.  You don’t have to give a theological answer or have some great words of wisdom but your presence speaks volumes.  Words like “I am sorry and I am praying for you” are powerful.  Being available is real ministry.
     Second, BE PRACTICAL.  When people are hurting, often the daily tasks of life are hard to complete.  Things like mowing the yard, getting groceries, cleaning the house, paying the bills, the daily tasks of living are very difficult.  Finding ways to help those who are hurting with practical needs is a way to be like Jesus to them.
     Third, BE PRAYERFUL.  Pray for them and pray with them.
 
     So as Christ-followers lets be agents facing trials in life to BE PRESENT, don’t run off when things are hard.  BE PRACTICAL, If there is a need you can meet, do it.  BE PRAYERFUL,  continue to lift them up in prayer.
 
Pastor Scott
 
 
My observation is that the best time to deal with the why question is when you are not in the middle of a trial, and while we may not have all the answers as to why, yet, how you think about the why’s of life will have a great affect on how you walk through the why’s of life.  So, early next year, we are going to look at the why question in a series called “Hard Question’s”