Why God?

Corrie ten Boom, the woman who is credited with saving the lives of more than 800 Jewish men, women, and children relates a wonderful story in her book “The Hiding Place”. It took place when she was about 8 years old on a train trip with her father. She had read the word “sexsin” in school and wanted to know what it meant. When she asked her mother, she blushed and would not answer. So she asked her father. He did not answer and she wasn’t sure that he had heard her but she didn’t press for an answer.

When it came time for them to leave the train her father asked Corrie to carry his briefcase from the train. It was heavy with the watches and things of his trade and so naturally was much too heavy for her to lift, let alone carry. When she told him it was too heavy for her he reached down, picked it up effortlessly, and taking her hand with his other hand, lead her from the train.

“Corrie”, he said. “Some knowledge is too heavy for children. When you are older you will understand. Until then you must trust me to carry the answers for you.” It was a simple answer but Corrie was content. She knew her father was in control and that was all that mattered.

Years later Corrie and her sister Betsie stood inside their newly assigned barracks in the Scheveningen concentration camp and realized they were covered in fleas. They had been sent here for hiding Jews in their home to save them from the Nazis.

“Oh Betsie, Corrie wailed. How can we live in such a place?”

“Show us, show us how”, said Betsie.

It took Corrie a moment to realize that Betsie was praying. Corrie would later write that the dividing line between prayer and the rest of life became less and less for Betsie every day. After prayer Betsie announced to Corrie that they already had the answer. She instructed Corrie to re-read their morning Bible selection.

“I Thessalonians 5:18 – In all things give thanks.”

Betsie then began to thank God for everything about their new barracks including the fleas. At Betsie’s urging Corrie did the same. “But in my heart I knew Betsie was wrong”, she said. It was weeks later before they realized that the guards would not enter their barracks because of the fleas. This left them with complete freedom to have Bible studies with no interference from the German guards. They could not have known at the time but these fleas were the answer to their prayers for protection as they ministered God’s word.

There are times when all of us go through things we don’t understand. It may be a job loss or the sickness and death of a loved one. Maybe it is the derailment of our carefully laid plans or the disappointment of betrayal. In such times God has given us the answer if we will accept him at his word.

“Give thanks in all circumstances.”

Giving thanks in such times is never easy. It goes against our logic. The most natural question is “why God”. “Why is this happening to me?” “Haven’t I been faithful enough” is a common question. “What about all the children I’ve taught in Sunday School or the people I’ve fed at the soup kitchen downtown”? “Don’t they count for something, God?” On and on the reasoning goes …

In such moments it might be helpful to remember that this trial may not be about us at all. Jesus allowed Lazarus to get sick and die so that others could see God’s glory. He said himself, “This sickness is not unto death but for the glory of God.” (John 11:4) In Corrie and Betsie’s case the fleas were not “about them”. God had purposefully put them in a place where they could minister for him unhindered. Upon careful consideration the fleas seemed a small price to pray. I’m sure that this knowledge didn’t make the flea bites any less miserable. It didn’t make their hunger go away or the cold less intense. But it did bring peace to their troubled minds; God was in control.

The hardest thing in a trial is to “let God be God.” Some would tell us not to question God or ask “why?” I assert that these are only natural questions. We are all human and our heavenly Father understands that better than anyone. His word tells us in the book of James that we can ask for wisdom without fear of being mocked. (James 1:5) This applies to questioning him about the “why” of a trial as well.

Yet the truth is, more times than we would like to admit, the answers we seek are not clear until much later. It is in these times that we must learn to praise God. It will not be easy at first. It never is. But once we learn to praise God it can become a habit. We know that though we don’t understand he will carry the knowledge for us.

Praising God may not bring the answers we seek but, as in in Corrie’s case, it will bring peace. Aren’t you thankful for a heavenly Father that is never caught off guard! Are you in a trial? Take a moment to praise him now? You will feel better, I promise.

Trusting Jesus,

Sullivan Jones