1986 May/June issue Part 4

Question and Answer
Q. Is it a sin to ask God why?
A. It is always best to go first for our answers to Jesus Himself. He cried out on the cross, "My  God, my God, why have You forsaken me?" It was a human cry, a cry of desperation, springing from his heart's agony at the prospect of being put into the hands of wicked men and actually becoming sin for you and me. We can never suffer anything like that, yet we do at times feel forsaken and cry, WHY, LORD?
The psalmist asked why. job, a blameless  man, suffering horrible torments on an ash heap, asked why. It does not seem to me to be sinful to ask the question. What is sinful is resentment against God and His dealings with us. When we begin to doubt His love and imagine that He is cheating us of something we have a right to, we are guilty as Adam and Eve were guilty. They took the snake at his word rather than God. The same snake comes to us repeatedly with the same suggestions: Does God love you? Does He really want the best for you? Is His word trustworthy? Isn't He cheating you?Forget His promises. You'd be better off if you do it your way.I have often asked why. Many things have happened which I didn't plan on and which human rationality could not explain. In the darkness of my perplexity and sorrow I have heard Him say quietly, TRUST ME. He knew that my question was not the challenge of unbelief or resentment. I have never doubted that He loves me, but I have sometimes felt like St. Teresa who said, "If this is the way You treat Your friends, no wonder You have so few!" Job was not, it seems to me, a very patient man. But he never gave up his conviction that he was in God's hands. God was big enough to take whatever job dished out (see Job 16 for a sample). Do not be afraid to tell Him exactly how you feel (He s already read your thoughts anyway). Don't tell the whole world. God can take it-others can't. Then listen for His answer. In the Newsletters of 1984 there were six scriptural answers to the question WHY-from 1 Peter 4:12-13; Romans 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 12:9; John 14:31; Romans 8:17; Colossians 1:24. There is mystery, but it is not all mystery. Here are clear reasons.