“Why me?” “Why is this happening?” “Why now?” is a common human response to trouble and suffering. I have done it. You probably have done it. Job asked, “Why have you made me your target” (Job 7:20)? The Psalmist asked, “Why, O LORD, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble” (10:1)? When God was silent and sin was abounding, Habakkuk cried out to God, “Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong” (1:3)?
The question we need to ask is: Has this question ever helped us? Has it shed light on our condition? Has it brought any comfort? When we consider this, we find that this question really is of little value and can take us spiraling deeper and deeper into discouragement and sadness. God will seem more and more distant or unkind, unfair, mean, or untrustworthy when we keep asking this question.
Another question is much more profitable. It is a God-honoring question. It is a question that brings us hope. This question directs our hearts to the Lord Jesus and His Word. Here is the question: “What do you want me to learn, Lord? I am in your school. You are the Teacher. I am your student. I am listening.”
After Jesus’ resurrection, women returned to His grave to complete the burial process. Rather than finding His body, they found the stone had been rolled away from the tomb and His body missing. What could this mean? Had someone stolen it? Then two angels stood by and said, “‘He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you…that the Son of Man must be delivered…crucified and on the third day rise.’ And they remembered his words…and told all these things to the eleven and the rest” (Luke 24:1-12).
What made the difference in these dear ladies going from perplexity to telling others that He had risen? “They remembered his words” (Luke 24:8). We see them bringing themselves into Christ’s school and listening to what He had earlier spoken.
This week when you face circumstances that trouble you, bring you sadness or perplexity, may your first response be, “Lord, what do you want me to learn?” Then be still and listen. Open God’s Word. Read a number of Psalms and find His comfort and direction as you sit at His feet in His school. “Lord, what do you want me to learn?”