"Why Me?"

“Why me? What have I done to deserve this?” This might be a phrase you think after experiencing car troubles, getting laid off at work, or even when you’re sick. Even during Bible times people thought bad things happened because someone had done something wrong. See what the disciples asked Jesus when they came across a man who was born blind:

“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2)

As children, if we do something wrong, we get punished. A toy gets taken away; we get sent to bed with no dessert; we get grounded. Because of these upbringings, I don’t think it’s unnatural to think that if something bad happens then it must be because we have done something wrong. The thing is, though, life rarely works this way.

Maybe one reason why we want to believe that bad things happen because someone did something wrong is because it doesn’t seem fair if that isn’t the case. Why should someone good and innocent experience such grief and pain? It might make us feel a lot better if there were legitimate reasons why such tragedies happen. But life is rarely fair.

The good news is that, as Christians, we can have faith that God has everything under control, even the bad things. When Jesus’ disciples asked him who had sinned that the man was born blind, Jesus responded:

“‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned… but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.’” (John 9:3)

We may not like all of the crappie stuff that happens to us, but we can take comfort knowing that God has a plan for us. As Christians, we can know that God works all things for the good of those who trust and love him (Romans 8:28). Even if we can’t understand why things happen, we can know and trust that God will work things out for us.

Take comfort in this: it isn’t just bad things that happen to undeserving people. We did nothing to deserve Jesus’ love or sacrifice, yet he gave it freely.

Image courtesy of Google Images.

 And we are not alone in our suffering. Even Jesus knows what it’s like to suffer for no fault of his own. He did not deserve death, yet, because God loved us so much, he came and died a sinner’s death on the cross. God has a plan, always. Jesus did not want to die, but he knew God had a plan. Right before he was taken away, “He withdrew… knelt down and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’” (Luke 22:41-42)

Whatever you are going through, or whatever you will go through in the future, remember: God knows what you are going through and he will be there with you and see you through.

Happy Easter everybody!

Molly