Asking God Why

About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

Matthew 27:46

When we suffer, I think it’s human nature to want to ask why? Why me? Why now? Why didn’t God prevent this from happening? But sometimes I hear people say, “I know I’m not supposed to ask ‘why,’ but...” Who told you that? Who told you that you aren’t supposed to ask ‘why?’ In the book of Psalms alone the various psalmists ask God ‘why’ nearly twenty times! And more to the point, Jesus Himself put this question to God the Father in the midst of His own suffering. 

I think that  means that it's okay for you to ask God ‘why.’ But understand that you may not get an answer right away. There's no record of the Father answering Jesus in that moment on the cross.

In the same way, when you face suffering and cry out to God to ask ‘why?’ ... understand that it may be weeks, months, or even years before God’s purposes are made plain to you. In fact, God may not tell you why on this side of Heaven at all. You may have to wait for eternity to fully understand God’s purposes for your pain.

But look at Jesus’ cry here in Matthew 27:46. He cries out to God wanting to know why… and yet, even as He asks the question, Jesus reaffirms His relationship and His trust in the Father. He cries out, “My God, my God.” Jesus isn’t crying out to some far off God that He doesn’t recognize or believe in. He is crying out to His own God. The God He knows and trusts. Even in His suffering… even when He asked why… even when He felt forsaken… He trusted His heavenly Father. And that’s what you should do as well.

Are you willing to trust God in your suffering? It’s okay if you feel the need to ask why, but you need to understand that the answer may be slow in coming… and it may not come this side of Heaven at all. And if you’re going to follow Jesus’ example, then you’ll keep on trusting God anyway… even though it costs your very life.