The "Why" question

         It has been on my heart lately the issue of how we think of God. It reminds me of what A.W. Tozer says: "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." It is so important to think rightly about God.
        Satan has always questioned the goodness and credibility of God. In Genesis 3:1 Satan is talking to Adam and Eve and says.. "Did God really say..?" He starts by questioning the motives of God.
In a recent church service, we were singing "How Great is our God". As I was singing, I was thinking of some really tragic things that happened that week. I heard the lie that we often hear... "If God is so great, then WHY would He allow that to happen?" The devil tempts us with the "why" question to make us question the credibility of God. I recognized the sly deceitfulness of the enemy continuing to question the goodness and faithfulness of Jesus. It reminds me of the story of John the Baptist. He was sitting in prison wondering why Jesus was doing nothing to help him. In Matthew 11:2 he sends disciples to go and ask Jesus, "Are You the One who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" Does anyone else find that strange?? Why would John, who had just baptized Jesus in the Jordan, saw heaven open, the Spirit descend, and heard the voice of God, be asking this question?? Was he not fully convinced that Jesus was the Messiah when the he heard God audibly say "This is my Son, whom I love". Sometimes I think he is asking "Jesus, If You are really the Messiah then "why" would you leave me here? Why are You not coming to my rescue? Why is this happening?"
The disciples asked the "Why" question when they are in the boat during the storm. In Mark 4:38, the disciples wake Jesus up and say "Do You not care that we are perishing"? They were asking Jesus "why" He was doing nothing but sleeping. We start to question Jesus when we start thinking logically at the situation. Of course Jesus cared but He was more concerned with why they were afraid rather than trusting His faithfulness. I love that even in a storm we may can feel everything shaking around us but stay at rest with Jesus. That is our inheritance as the beloved.
        We may be tempted to question Jesus when we are hurting or afraid. We do not see God as "fair" when we do not get our way. We do not even know what "fair" means from His perspective. When I babysit and the child asked me if they just eat all the cookies in the cookies jar for dinner, of course my response is no because i know how sick they will be. I know the response that is soon to follow... "That's not fair!!!" Of course they do not think it is fair because of their perspective. They do not understand the big picture.
       We must not entertain questioning thoughts because it allows Satan a door of opportunity to bring resentment and bitterness in our life. Even in the death of a loved one, a sickness, or tragedy we can not afford to be offended with our Beloved Jesus. This is the only time in all of eternity that we can CHOOSE to say "yes" to God in the midst of a struggle or hardship. We can choose to trust Him instead of being offended with Him. He is not aggrivated that we do not understand, the same way i am not aggrivated that children do not understand cookies for dinner, but I have to trust that He is who He says He is.
1. He is Real and Alive
2. He is Good
3. He is Faithfulness
      Dwelling on what the Word says about Him, brings down every wrong mindset. He is good because He is God. Faith is the confidence in the goodness of God. We can choose to believe God is incredibly good no matter the circumstance. Thinking logically will not get us to that point, but having our minds set on things above gives us a supernatural mindset. If we continue to focus on the things we do not understand, there is only worry, stress, and a complete lack of trust. I have to focus on what I DO understand!...
His power is made perfect in weakenss -2 Corinthians 12:9
He has UNFAILING love forever- Isaiah 54:10
He does not change - Malachi 3:6
We have grace and mercy to help in time of need - Hebrews 4:16
The Lord is good and has good things planned for those who love Him -Deut. 8:7, Ps. 34:8, 84:11, Lamentations 3:25, Zechariah 9:17, 1 Tim. 4:4