Question… When things get weird, life gets hard, or circumstances become burdensome, do you try to wonder why? Do you try to put yourself in God’s position by wondering if God’s allowing things to happen because of….? I have, and the truth is, we don’t know, and won’t until it happens or is revealed. I have been in a storm for over a year now, and I’ve been wondering why. Thinking to myself, maybe it’s something I’ve done in the past that is causing this prolonged misfortune, or maybe God is trying to teach me something about myself. He very well could be: “You don’t know why I’m allowing this and are in no position to try and figure it out.”

Yesterday, while showering (I often talk to God in the shower) I began wondering why I am still in this storm. I am so ready to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I said, “Maybe you are doing this because… and then I stopped my conversation.” As I was about to ramble on, the story of Job dropped in my spirit. Job (a wealthy, God-fearing man), experienced a lot of unfortunate attacks from the enemy in just one day. God allowed it to prove to Satan that with or without, Job would remain upright and blameless since Satan said that he would curse God to His face.

Job lost his livestock, servants, children, and health. After all this happens, Job attempts to understand the unfortunate circumstances. His wife and friends began their made-up assumptions of the attacks Job faced, but in chapters 38-41 of the Book of Job, God speaks and reveals His omnipotence. In other words, Job, his wife, and his friends’ understanding of God allowing the awful circumstances were rebuked. God is not to be understood. If we can understand God, that puts Him on the level of our finite understanding.

We humans have limitations. Our brains have finite capacity. For visual purposes: we’re an ant eye in comparison to the whole universe. I am in this prolonged storm for a reason. I do not need to know the specifics but trust that it is for something greater than my mind can imagine. I’ll know when God reveals it or when the purpose for which God allows it, comes to pass. What looks unfair to me and others, is necessary to God. If it wasn’t, He wouldn’t have allowed it. In a sense, it is arrogant to try to “play God.”

We are to trust God and His character. After God spoke, Job humbled himself and repented (Job 42:1-6) for trying to figure out God and so did I. It is not for me to understand the storms, but to know that God has His plans and purposes – those don’t include me wondering why. You can drive yourself mad trying to figure Him out. God restored to Job double of all he lost. I know He’s going to do the same for me!

“Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10)

This week I challenge you to let go of your understanding of things and trust God. It will save you the headache and madness. Have a good week!