It’s about who. Not why. The question of why can do wonders for our inquisitive brains and perk our imaginations. The question of why has sparked marvelous revelations. Why do humans need water to survive? Because water makes up 60% of our bodies. They need water to function, and without water, our bodies will organically start to shut down. Why are oceans saltwater? Because the salts around oceans and the floor of the oceans have salt crystals dissolving into the seawater. The why component of questions expands our knowledge and the depths of our reasoning. I think there is power in knowing why.

Why did God create us? Because He loves us.  

Why would God create us? Because He wanted to create you. He loves His creation. In Colossians 1:16-17, Paul says “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him, all things hold together.” God loves us as His children, and He created us out of pure love. His character is unbounded love and grace. You will find verses upon verses about the love God has for us. (1 John 4:18, 1 Corinthians 13). Out of pure agape love, God created you and me. He loved us so much that He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to die for us. When we accept Christ into our lives and hearts, nothing can separate our love from Christ. Romans 8:35 states “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” Then continuing into Romans 8:38 “For I am convinced neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Because of Jesus, nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. How awesome is that?

There are beautiful enfoldings in asking God why, and then trusting His answer. When we ask why, we can comprehend the width, height, and depth of God’s love and His outflowing character that exceeds any possible human explanation.

However, I have found myself drowning in a spiral funnel of asking the why. If our God is so good, then why would challenging circumstances happen? Why does it have to be this way? Why do pain and hurt have to exist? Why me personally and not someone else? After a series of asking the why it can blur the character of God.   Not that the question “why” itself is detrimental, but rather the purpose behind asking why. Sometimes I ask why because my heart is lacking trust in my Lord. The condition of my heart is in a state that is using “why” to question His plans. His designated purpose. Why would he take someone I love so soon? Why would he let me tear my ACL and end a season at its peak? Why did He make me deaf? I tossed and turned with the whys, and let it captivate and strangle my faith. Are we asking why because we want to know why or are we asking why because we are lacking the trust in our Lord? Too often, I have asked why so many times that I fall into a rabbit hole stirred by the enemy. The enemy speaks lies of “if your God is so mighty, why would he do that?” We can ask “why” out of curiosity and have the courage to dig deeper to grow our faith and beliefs. It is the “whys” that can create this opposition to challenge the character of God that can throw us out of bounds with His true love for us. The “whys” from a weak and dry heart often question & doubt God. The” whys” from a strong and rich heart often choose to trust in God’s plans and purposes.

Psalm 26:2 says “Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind.” 
Examine your heart and mind when you ask the “whys” in difficult times as well as in your uplifting times. 

One question I hear people challenge in my walk of faith is: “why does God let bad things happen?” After losing great people in our lives, or seeing heart-wrenching illnesses strike the people we love dearly, this question is usually projected with anger, sadness, and anxiety. The same goes for any situation that has brought us down and wrecked our world. Maybe it’s a financial situation. Maybe it’s a closed door that doesn’t make sense. Why?

Why God? Why us? Why & why? I am speaking upon this because I find myself, and others I have connected with, focusing too much on the why instead of the WHO. A mindset shift that I have been trying to include into my life is asking “Who is my God” instead of the “Why”? Who is our God? Who is my Father? Who wrote my Bible? Instead of Why did God let this happen? Why me? Etc.

The Lord. Abba. Yahweh. The King of Kings. The Wise Counselor. The Prophesied Messiah. Jehovah. Righteous Judge. The Master Creator. El Olam. The Redeemer. Promise Keeper. The Restorer. God of Ancient Days and Eternity. The PeaceMaker. Miracle Worker. The Healer. The Rock. The Light… He is GOD. This list never ends, but I think you get the idea I am after…

God is all love. Perfection in character. Kind, but not soft. He is just. He is merciful. He is graceful. He is our Savior. He provides shelter as our fortress, and He is our protector against all storms. How mighty incredible is that? Our God is WHO He says He is.  So when tragedy strikes our way, rejection slams in our face, or shame fills our mind, how about we start asking Who God Is? What is His character? When we ask the question of why we are searching for answers that we may never find.  Here’s the plot twist of our fleshly world, God is the Creator and only He holds every single answer. Yes, we have the Bible filled with many many answers that can help us navigate our rough storms and everyday realities. Here’s the thing: We are His creation, and with faith, we are bound to trust in Him. God is the only one who knows why. We may get snippets of why. God may speak to us and tell us why. To this day, I do not know why my ACL had to tear in the prime of my athletic career, but the tests and trials the Lord threw at me during that injury have foundationally built me into who I am today. Romans 5:2(NLT) “We can rejoice too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” Our God uses trials and tribulations to build our character and hope in WHO He is.

 I don’t know why I am deaf entirely.  But Who is my God? He is the God that says to Moses in Exodus 4:11-12 “Who gave human being their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and teach you what to say.” I will trust in WHO my God is. I understand that it holds a greater purpose than I can understand. I don’t know why some people I love are gone, but God does. It was time, and their flights to heaven were a part of His timeline, not mine.

Trust Him enough to start asking Who is God?

Who is my God?

Sure you can ask Him why and seek the answers in the Bible, but I think perspective changes when we ask Who is our mighty God? What is His character? Rather than searching for a specific answer to the why question? Search your heart for why you are asking why?

In any way are you doubting His character, His plans? If so, start searching and exploring the joyous heart of the Lord, and I can guarantee you will find healing in just embracing His love. His character.

Trust Him with all your heart.

You are incredible & let your sunshine shine. God is so good despite the hardships.

With all my heart,

Haley