Grappling with why….

Why didn’t God answer my prayers? Why hasn’t God healed someone I love? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why is life so hard?

^{Mark 11: 24} Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ²⁵ And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.

When you are praying God may not be answering your prayers because of what is in your heart. The bible clearly says we must first forgive others so that our father in heaven will forgive us. I can think of many times I have wanted something from God and not received it at a point in my life where I was filled with bitterness toward someone else. Can you? The bible tells us that we are to forgive others as we wish to be forgiven. Well, that my friends is easier said than done…… But what if when we choose, because it is always a choice, not to forgive we are also choosing not to have our prayers answered? Is it worth it to hold onto your bitterness?

James 4:3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

This verse from James is one I have read and shared before. It really resonates with me, especially when God doesn’t answer my prayers. How many people do you think prayed to win the Mega-Million lottery a few weeks back? How many of those people were Christians? I am sure quite a few. It seemed like everyone bought a ticket. Didn’t you? The thing is God wants the glory. He wants to meet your need where you are. It’s not about money with God or pleasures. God wants you and your heart. God sees what the end result would be. It’s not that he doesn’t love you in fact it’s more that he does love you. Think of it this way. Your kids have a whole basket of Easter candy. The candy is good, but they want to eat it all. A little candy is great, but a lot will make them sick. You as an adult know this. It’s not that you love them any less when you say no more candy today. In fact you say no out of love. God loves you more than that and he too says no out of love. Just because you didn’t win the mega million doesn’t mean you are less loved. He knows that having too much can make you sick so he said no. You may think you would do one thing with the money, but money can become a powerful idol and God knows what it would do to your life and mine. Proverbs 6:2 All a person’s ways seem pure to them,
but motives are weighed by the LORD.

Of course it might not be your motives that are the problem. It could be your faith. Do you really believe God will heal the person you are praying for? Do you believe God will change that sinner’s heart? After all these years do you still believe that your crazy drunk relative can find God? Mark 9:23 If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” If you don’t believe God will answer a prayer there is no point in praying it. Do not say well we’ve tried everything else all we can do now is pray. Start each day, end each day, and throughout each day PRAY. God can do all. That doesn’t mean he will, but if you truly believe he won’t he may decide to prove you right. It amazes me sometimes that those who don’t believe in God have such animosity toward those who do. C S Lewis wrote: “Atheists express their rage against God although in their view He does not exist.” Why would you hate something that doesn’t exist? Why is it that when God doesn’t do what you want him to you question his very existence? I think the answer is simple I can most definitely run a mile. I have run a mile in the past. I will run a mile in the future, but today I am not going to run a mile. Why not you ask? Well today is not a good day to run a mile. It is cold, it is rainy, and I have church tonight. Church is better than running a mile. So today instead of running a mile I will do something better. God can answer your prayer, has answered your prayers, and will answer your prayers; but this prayer he chooses not to because he has something better for you. Believe that he will and he can, and when he doesn’t you must still believe. James 1: 6-7 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

It’s just not fair is it? Not fair that God can answer your prayers and won’t. Not fair that you a good person struggle with bad things. It’s not fair that babies die, that corrupt politicians exist, it’s not fair that some people have tons of food and others starve, and it’s not fair that I didn’t win the mega-million. ;) We’ve all heard the phrase life’s not fair. John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” You were not made for this world. Remember that when you are thinking of unfairness.

Just because something bad happens does not prove there is no God. Atheists will tell you that if there is a God then why is there evil? The thing is atheist, Christian, or agnostic we all grapple with the question of why bad things happen. I believe there are two reasons bad things happen.

1. Bad things happen so you can see the Glory of God

On September 11, 2001 there were thousands of good people going about their day. Many of these people were doing exactly what they did every day. No one saw it coming. America was forever changed in an instant. By the time the second plane hit we were reeling. So many why’s unanswered in that moment and on that day. Maybe you should take a look at what happened during and after 9/11:

“I had not prayed in years, especially the lifestyle I was living. And my prayer was very specific I said ‘Lord, I need to feel alive again. I feel that I have a heart that’s not beating. I don’t want to feel this way.’ I said, ‘God let me see with your eyes and let me feel with your heart what you’re feeling now.’ Suddenly I felt God’s hand touch me. Tears start coming down my eyes and to me that was impossibility. I felt good, like for the first time in my life God was actually with me.” Steve Negron

Then in the midst of America’s darkest hours and in the midst of the enormous devastation, John says he believes hope was revealed. Four steel girder crosses laid upright in the middle of Building 6. All the workers in the immediate area, both believers and non-believers, stopped what they were doing and bowed their heads and prayed. John Picarello

There is another amazing report that more than 100 members of a New York church who worked at the Twin Towers got a witness in their spirit to not go to work on the morning of 9/11.

“It was the most beautiful, clear day on the east coast ... I sent out an email to someone that goes to my church saying, ‘Something is happening to me this morning. I know there is a call of God on my life. I have just been chasing stuff in America, but I want to be used by God,’” John wrote. Moments later, he heard an incredible explosion as the first plane hit the North Tower. While the walls shook and jet fuel from the plane ignited a fire all around him and thousands of other employees, everyone began to run for the stairs. Then he heard another explosion, as the second plane crashed into the South Tower, where his pregnant wife worked. No calls could be made to his wife because cell phones were not functioning properly. When he finally reached the plaza, huddling together with 15-20 other people, all he could think was, “These people that are with you, where are they going without Jesus?” “I started crying out to Jesus, and I asked those 15-20 people to call upon the name of the Lord. The most incredible thing happened. Not one tried to argue with me or debate with me. But as I started calling upon the name of the Lord, they followed in unison and I could hear these people cry, ‘Jesus,’ with me for a few minutes.”

Twenty minutes later, everyone around him had been crushed or smashed by the rubble. He was the only survivor.“I said, ‘God, they just called upon your name, and how come did they not make it?’ And I felt God saying, ‘Sujo, they made their peace with me in their dying moments and they are resting with me in my presence.’”As rescue workers soon led him out of the debris, he could not help but ask God why he spared his own life. Believing that his wife was dead already, John soon received a call on his cell phone with his wife’s caller ID on it. Though he assumed that it was someone calling to tell him the news of his wife, he answered, only to hear the reassuring voice of Mary on the other line – she was running late for work that morning. After being reunited with the love of his life, John prayed that night, “God, I am done chasing things that have been on my heart. I have been chasing success, fame, financial security, but from now on I want to be chasing that which is in your heart.” From that day forth, John following his convictions, launched Sujo John Ministries, an international evangelistic ministry dedicated to spreading the Gospel message of grace, which he so vividly experienced himself.

September 11, 2011 is only one example of a tragedy that God used.John 9:3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. In your pain and in your sorrow God is there. You may be like the blind man in the Gospel of John. Through no fault of his own was he blind, but the glory of God was revealed to many when he was blind no more. Sometimes bad things happen because a miracle is needed. 9-11 led to a religious revival. Many people who had never sought Jesus found him and were saved. God’s plan in many tragedies is to save someone or in the case of 9-11 thousands died so hundreds of thousands might struggle with the tragedy, seek God, and be saved.

2. Your definition of good people is flawed.

The other thing you must know is all men and all women have sinned. You and I are sinners. Our nature is deprived. The bible says: 1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. We can try to be good enough every single day for the rest of our lives, but the reality is that’s just not enough. Romans 3: 23-24 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. All fall short. That means that I am as much a sinner as you are. God doesn’t distinguish between sins either. Sin is sin. The only way out of sin was a price that was very high. God sent a truly good person. One who was completely without sin, and he allowed a bad thing to happen to a good person. Only once in all of history has a bad thing happened to a truly good person. It happened when they hung his son, Jesus, on a cross to pay for the sins of every man. He died sinless so that you might be saved from your sins. 2Chronicles6: 36“When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to a land far away or near; Remember, that there is no one who does not sin. No matter what they tell you. No matter how holy they seem. Everyone sins. We sin in our hearts and minds daily. The bible tells us our thoughts of anger are as bad as our actions.

So the next time something horrible happens, and you ask why did that happen to such a good person? Remember it happened to a sinner. It doesn’t mean that a tragedy is any less a tragedy. Horrible sad things happen every day. They are tragic. They will shake you, but God will do something amazing through them. He saves people in the midst of tragedies. Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

I believe that God is good. I believe that God will answer my prayers. But if he doesn’t I WILL STILL BELIEVE

Note: Craig Groeschel preached an amazing multi-part series called Why. This series has insight on other why questions that we ask and delves deeper into the ones that I highlighted here. I recommend taking the time and watching it online. It is free to anyone who wants to watch it. Here’s the link: WHY

Mac Powell

He was pierced for our transgressions
He was crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him
And by His wounds, by His wounds we are healed

He was pierced for our transgressions
He was crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him
And by His wounds, by His wounds we are healed

We are healed by Your sacrifice
And the life that You gave
We are healed for You paid the price
By Your grace we are saved
We are saved

He was pierced for our transgressions
And crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him
And by His wounds, by His wounds we are healed

We are healed by Your sacrifice
And the life that You gave
We are healed for You paid the price
By Your grace we are saved
We are saved

He was pierced for our transgressions
He was crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him
And by His wounds, by His wounds we are healed
And by His wounds, by His wounds

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus