Why Are You Asking “Why?”

God is not afraid of our questions. He is big enough to handle them. However, many times we are not asking God why because we sincerely want to understand His will. Instead, our questions come from a prideful and untrusting heart, one that thinks it knows better than God. Some questions are sincere where the seeker really wants to understand why God said or did certain things. But there are some who ask those same questions, and they are disinterested in God’s answer. They are more interested in God accepting what they think the correct answer should be. Their question reveals that they want God to embrace their will instead of them embracing His! Are you sincerely seeking an answer when you ask why; or do you ask why, intending to accuse God and question His goodness? There is a great distinction between the two.

I become easily disgruntled if I remain stuck at always asking “why?” It keeps me on a hamster wheel and I am left frustrated and confused. Instead of asking God why He allows certain things, I think the question I have to ask myself is, do I believe God is who He says He is? Perhaps I should interview myself instead of interviewing God. When I face difficult circumstances that seem to contradict God’s word, when I experience pain beyond what I feel my heart can take, when the answer is no when I am convinced it should be yes; I have to go back to that secret place and ask myself some questions. Do I believe God is who He says He is and do I trust Him? Do I believe He is sovereign? Do I trust that He has my best interest at heart? Do I trust He knows the end from the beginning? Do I trust He is as loving as He claims to be?  If I can answer yes to the above questions then I won’t get hung up and all the “whys?” Not that I never ask, but I don’t remain stuck in trying to understand it all. I conclude knowing that even if I don’t know and understand the why’s, my loving God does, and that is good enough so I rest in Him!

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Anika Jones

About the Author

Anika Jones

Anika Jones is a speaker and author of the book Lessons Learned Along The Way: A 40 Day Devotional. She blogs about faith and family at LivingForLater.com and posts weekly videos on her YouTube channels, Living For Later (@livingforlater) and Living Life Now (@livinglifenow). Anika loves speaking about developing intimacy with God and understanding who we are in Christ. She serves alongside her husband in ministry. They live in Illinois with their 6 children.