Why Me, Lord?
Devotions for Growing Christians
Why Me, Lord?
Job 7:19-20 - Why won’t you leave me alone, at least long enough for me to swallow! If I have sinned, what have I done to you, O watcher of all humanity? Why make me your target? Am I a burden to you?
"Why me, Lord?"
If we’re honest, we've all probably voiced (or at least thought) that question at some point in our lives, especially during times of extreme pressure or pain.
Over 3,000 years ago, a man named Job asked God that question during a time of personal tragedy and suffering. The Lord answered him, and His response is recorded in the Old Testament book of Job. Like all the Old Testament Scriptures, this was written for our benefit. (See Romans 15:4.) So let's look at the story of Job to see how it applies to our "Why me?" questions today.
A Theodicy
"Why me, Lord?" is really part of a much larger question in the book of Job: “How can a good and all-powerful God allow suffering?” That question is asked often these days, especially when the news revolves around the suffering of "innocent” or seemingly “good" people. A defense of God's goodness and omnipotence in spite of apparent inconsistencies is known as a "theodicy.” It’s a vindication of God’s goodness, in spite of suffering.
The whole book of Job is a theodicy, as it deals with the purpose of suffering in the life of the believer. It helps us to understand that God allows suffering to accomplish His good purposes in our lives. Although the book is not an exhaustive study for all the ways in which God uses suffering for our good, three answers to the “Why me?” question clearly emerge.
1. Assessing Job’s faith
The first reason for Job's suffering was to measure Job's faith. The Bible teaches that God tests believers to prove the genuine quality of their faith. A proven faith is worth far more than gold, and results in praise and honor and glory to God (1 Peter 1:7).
God's testing of our faith is similar to a father “proving” the character of a young child by purposely giving the him or her some tough jobs around the home. The father is pleased when his child perseveres, even when it gets difficult!
In the first two chapters of Job, God permitted circumstances that severely tested Job's faith. Job was a man of great wealth, influence, and outstanding faith. God said Job was "blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil" (Job 1:1). But then waves of adversity struck, leaving him struggling to understand.
In the first wave, Job lost all his children and all his possessions. What incredible loss! Most of our "why me?" outbursts pale in comparison. But even in this tragedy, Job recognized that everything we have in life comes from the gracious hand of God. Job worshiped the Lord, saying, "The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!" (1:20-21). The Lord’s assessment of Job's faith after this first wave of affliction was: "In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.” (1:22).
The second wave of suffering attacked Job's body with painful and unsavory afflictions. He was covered with boils (2:7). His skin was crusty, and it oozed serum that attracted worms (7:5). There was no relief from his fever and intense pain (2:13 and 30:17, 30). Job's response could only come from a deeply rooted faith in God: "Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?" Again, God's assessment of Job's faith was: "Job said nothing wrong." (2:10).
2. Developing Job’s faith
When God allowed his servant to suffer, He had more in mind than just an assessment of Job's faith. He also wanted to develop Job's faith. Even though Job didn’t renounce God throughout his ordeal, he did raise questions. Job couldn’t understand why God was letting all this happen to him. Did God really know what He was doing? His friends thought they knew. The logic of Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar was simple: "All suffering is the result of sin. Job is suffering; therefore Job has sinned."
Job staunchly maintained his innocence, and on this point, he was right. But it was wrong for Job to question God's ways, or have a "why me?" attitude. This is the area where Job's faith needed to be developed -- and ours most likely does too!
In chapters 32-37, Elihu, a fourth friend/counselor, came closer to the truth than the first three friends. Elihu told Job that he was being disciplined by God, and that Job should submit to God, rather than question God. It appears that God used Elihu to pave the way for His own answer to Job.
Then the Lord spoke. Using a series of questions, God gave Job a small glimpse of His infinite knowledge and power. Who was Job, to question the ways of the sovereign Creator? Job was reduced to the level of a grade school math student confronted by Einstein!
Job's response was beautiful, and it was evidence of a great step forward in the development of his faith. (See 40:3-5 and 42:1-6.) Job recognized his insignificance and his ignorance. He retracted his former "why me?" statements, and he repented of his wrong attitude. He realized that the Lord was in control of everything and humbly submitted to God while waiting for further instruction.
God wants to develop our faith, too. Although asking "Why me, Lord?" is not wrong, it’s a sign of immaturity. It’s a subconscious pride in our own self-righteousness. Questioning God’s ways, with the attitude that God is unfair or uninformed shows the basic sin of pride. It’s evidence of a faith that must mature to a proper understanding and reverence of who God is.
During easy times we often feel self-satisfied, but it’s through the tough times that we recognize our wrong attitudes and begin to change. A growing Christian learns to humbly submit to the hand of God and to trust His ways.
3. Making an example of Job’s faith
A third reason for Job's suffering was to display Job's faith. Job was an example of faith, not only to earthly people, but to heavenly beings as well. In Job 1:6-8 and 2:1-3, the Lord's questions to Satan make it clear that Job's faith was on display before the unseen spirit world. Although Job's faith was not perfect, and needed development, God still took delight in “showing off” the faith of His servant Job.
Can God take delight in displaying our faith? Angelic hosts (both good and bad!) are observing the evidence of our faith. This should motivate us to a more consistent walk with God. Remember that Satan is called the “accuser" of believers. (See Zechariah 3:1 and Revelation 12:10.) Unfortunately, all too often the enemy has plenty of evidence from our lives to use for accusation.
It may be comforting to know that God put limits on how much heat Satan was allowed to bring to Job's crucible of testing (1:12 and 2:6). And 1 Corinthians 10:13 assures us that God still sets the limits on how much heat can be applied to our lives. The protective “hedge” that was around Job (1:10) is around us as well. It’s lowered only when the Lord knows we're strong enough to handle the situation.
The last chapter of Job shows the happy scene of Job's restoration. God's purposes through suffering were accomplished in Job’s life, and in the end he was greatly blessed! As we come to understand and appreciate God's answers in our lives, we will know the blessing of God in our lives forever.
- Dave Reid
(Updated 2021, Ron Reid)