“Why, God? Why?”
April 8, 2022 by Gil Killam
Filed under Daily Devotions
By Gillis Killam –
In meeting with some of my not-yet Believer friends, the conversation inevitably turns to some horrible crime that was committed, or some accident that claimed the lives of young people who still had their lives ahead of them.
Theirs are questions we all have; but it is interesting how people blame God in difficult times when they have never before acknowledged Him. In their anxiety, they look for other answers only to find that no one can answer the questions to their satisfaction.
If one doesn’t believe the Bible, then there is no answer. However, the Bible gives many answers and, of course, there are things known only to God. The scripture says, “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29 KJV).
So we don’t know all the answers to why tragedies happen. In His wisdom He has kept some things from us; but we do know that God has a design for every life and it is our responsibility to discover what He wants us to be and do. It is not for us to question the Creator, for He is from eternity and we are in time where everything in this life comes to an end. He sees time and its ultimate outcome from His view, not from our limited reality. We can’t understand why a godly person dies and a wicked person lives out his life span. Isaiah gives one answer that I think applies to all.
“The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death” (Isaiah 57:1-2 NIV).
The wise man in Ecclesiastes said this after surveying the things we can’t fathom, “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NIV).
Prayer: O God, I don’t know why there are tragedies in life, but I do know that You know best.
Gil Killam was born in New Brunswick, Canada and served as pastor in 4 pastorates in Saskatchewan & Alberta, Canada. Gil is married to his wife Lorna and they have 5 children, 14 Grandchildren and 5 great grand children. He is a graduate of Eston College with a Bachelor of Biblical Studies degree. He also served President of his denomination. Gil enjoys golfing and reading in his spare time.