Why Doesn’t God Tell Me Why?

In Psalm 37:7 I read, “Surrender yourself to the LORD, and wait patiently for him." (GW)

One reason we struggle with contentment is because we’re always looking for explanations for why things happen in our lives. But God doesn’t tell us why most things happen, and that can frustrate us.

Sometimes God doesn’t tell me why because he’s testing me. He wants to see if I will let go of control and learn to be content, whether or not he explains why something happens in my life.

In reality, God doesn’t owe me an explanation for anything. I’m likely to never know why most things happen until I get to heaven.

When God is silent, when I don’t hear him, and he feels like he’s a million miles away, that is a test!

A teacher is always silent when the students take a test, but the teacher is still present with the students. When God is silent in my life, my faith is being tested, but God is still with me.

In that test, will I let go of control, or will I grab on more tightly? Will I learn to be content?

The Bible says, “Surrender yourself to the Lord, and wait patiently for him” (Psalm 37:7 GW).

When I go through pain, I don’t really need God’s explanation. I need God’s presence. I need to learn to let go of control and surrender myself to him.

In summary, Surrender yourself to the LORD, and learn to wait patiently for him. One reason I struggle with contentment is because I’m looking for explanations on why things happen. But God doesn’t always reveal the why. What I’m learning is that sometimes God doesn’t tell me why because he’s testing me. He wants to see if I will let go of control and learn to be content, whether or not he explains why. In reality, God doesn’t owe me an explanation for anything. I may never find out until I get to heaven. When God is silent, or when I don’t hear him, and he feels like he’s a million miles away, that is a test! Much like a teacher is always silent when the students are taking a test, the teacher is still present with the students. It’s the same when God is silent in my life. My faith is being tested, but God is still with me. In that test, will I let go of control, or will I grab on more tightly? Or, will I learn to be content? When I go through pain, I don’t really need God’s explanation. I just need God’s presence. I need to learn to let go of control and surrender myself to him.

David calls me to take delight in the Lord and to commit everything I have and do to him. This means I experience great pleasure and joy in his presence. Everyday I need to learn and know him better and to be faithful in my relationship with him. I need to be willing to wait patiently for him to work out what is best for me.

Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 

Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives. I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.