Why Me God?

Mark 15:33-37 (NIV) 33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.” 36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said. 37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.

“Why me, God?” is a common question when life just doesn’t make sense or bad things happen. When I think back over my life, there were many times (naivety on my part and despite the voice of my mother ringing my ear saying, “You Don’t Question God”) I would ask the very question of this devotional, “Why me God”? —Admittedly, the question always surfaced from a negative situation. You name it, chances are, it’s my testimony.

As time passed along with spiritual growth, I learned one of the most valuable lessons a person could obtain and that is “Nothing Just Happens”, because it’s all “God’s Will”.  --- We ask God, why me and God responds, “Why NOT you”? Proverbs 19:21 – “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

• Moses, when approached by God to lead the Israelites out of captivity, ask the question, Why Me God? and gave excuses as to why he wasn’t worthy, but it was God’s will.
• Jeremiah, when God called him as a teen-ager used similar excuses as Moses and ask God, why me, but it was God’s will and in spite of many hardships, Jeremiah served for over 40 years.
• Job, blameless, upright, shuns evil and fears God but found himself wondering why God had forsaken him, (or so he thought).
• Jesus, the son of God. He knew in advance, the job he was task to do, including the abuse (physical and verbal) he would endure, (Isaiah 53:3-8), in the garden of Gethsemane ask if “the cup he had to drink could pass from him, but in the same breath testified that “Not his will but the father’s will be done”.
  
  

No one should expect a carefree, perfect life. We believe God loves us with a faithful and everlasting love. But sometimes life’s burdens are heavy, and we would like an explanation. Being obedient to what God tells you to do can be hard and challenging but always rewarding, (sooner or later). I Samuel 15:22 tells us that “Obedience is better than sacrifice”. (If King Saul had been obedient to do what he was instructed to, he probably wouldn’t have lost his kingdom).
 
Mark 15:33-37 serves as a powerful reminder of Jesus' sacrifice and the profound love that God has for us. When we face our own trials and question why we must endure them, we can look to Jesus' example and find solace in the knowledge that God is with us through every moment of our suffering. Our pain has purpose, and God's love will guide us through to the light. Proverbs 3:5-6 teaches us to “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.

Prayer: Dear Lord, in times of suffering and chaos is all around us, when we feel lost and cry out Why Me, God?' give us the strength to hold on just a little while longer and the wisdom to understand your divine purpose. Help us to trust in your love and to find hope in your presence. May our struggles bring us closer to you and deepen our faith. Amen, Amen & Amen.