Dear Lord, Why? (Asking God Why Bad Things Happen)

Photo Credit: Jessica Manango - Unsplash

Dear Lord, I am back again with questions today.

I read The Wounded Heart and it really brought up some old pains. Seriously. Anger, confusion, I really wrestled with Your goodness Lord.

I don’t want to doubt You because You really are the only place I have ever found true refuge and peace. But at the same time I hurt. And to know that You promised to protect me and yet pain…

So, Lord. I found myself going out to get a hot breakfast tea latte and plop down with my Bible and argue with You. I disputed the Psalms today. But then I felt Your soft whisper guide me back to Habakkuk of all places. I’d already highlighted there. Apparently I ask a lot of the same questions over and again. I’m thankful You are patient.

“Habakkuk’s Complaint

2How long, Lord, must I call for help,

but you do not listen?

Or cry out to you, “Violence!”

but you do not save?

3Why do you make me look at injustice?

Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?

Destruction and violence are before me;

there is strife, and conflict abounds.

4Therefore the law is paralyzed,

and justice never prevails.

The wicked hem in the righteous,

so that justice is perverted.”

Habakkuk has the same questions as me! No, way. Lord, the irony isn’t lost on me. The boldness of Habakkuk to ask You! Lord, thank You that I can wrestle with You and You still love me greatly. (This tea is comforting, thank you for it)

The Lord’s Answer

5“Look at the nations and watch—

and be utterly amazed.

For I am going to do something in your days

that you would not believe,

even if you were told.

6I am raising up the Babylonians,

that ruthless and impetuous people,

who sweep across the whole earth

to seize dwellings not their own.

7They are a feared and dreaded people;

they are a law to themselves

and promote their own honor.

8Their horses are swifter than leopards,

fiercer than wolves at dusk.

Their cavalry gallops headlong;

their horsemen come from afar.

They fly like an eagle swooping to devour;

9they all come intent on violence.

Their hordes advance like a desert wind

and gather prisoners like sand.

10They mock kings

and scoff at rulers.

They laugh at all fortified cities;

by building earthen ramps they capture them.

11Then they sweep past like the wind and go on—

guilty people, whose own strength is their god.”

Habakkuk’s Second Complaint

12 Lord, are you not from everlasting?

My God, my Holy One, you will never die.

You, Lord, have appointed them to execute judgment;

you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish.

13Your eyes are too pure to look on evil;

you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.

Why then do you tolerate the treacherous?

Why are you silent while the wicked

swallow up those more righteous than themselves?

14You have made people like the fish in the sea,

like the sea creatures that have no ruler.

15The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks,

he catches them in his net,

he gathers them up in his dragnet;

and so he rejoices and is glad.

16Therefore he sacrifices to his net

and burns incense to his dragnet,

for by his net he lives in luxury

and enjoys the choicest food.

17Is he to keep on emptying his net,

destroying nations without mercy?

Lord? You plan on answering Habakkuk with more details?

Oooh. Ok. You really are just. Lord, help me not desire injustice on the oppressor, help me as I wrestle with forgiveness. I trust You to take care of it. Lord…may they repent. I repent for times I have sinned against others as well. You are truly a just Father.

It is interesting. Habakkuk goes from crying and asking You where the justice is to asking You to have mercy on the day of wrath.

Thank You Lord, for holding me during this day of being uncertain of You and Your ability to protect me. Build back up my trust in You Oh Lord, my God.

In Jesus’ Name Amen.

-MJ