Friday playgroups were the highlight of my week. Megan was sure to have us belly laughing over her latest Boy Mom story: Boys watching cartoons naked on the couch, or peeing on each other, or dipping living room decorations in ketchup.⁠
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Last week, after years of battling mental and physical illness, my funny friend died and we were left asking God, “Why?”⁠
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Why weren’t our prayers for healing answered?⁠
Why did You let her suffer so long?⁠
Why didn’t You stop the downward spiral?⁠
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I struggle with asking why. It feels like a form of complaining or faithlessness. Are my whys a lack of trust in God who I know to be Sovereign over all, always good, never changing, loving, compassionate, and faithful? My friend’s death taught me I had more to learn about my God. A walk through Psalms was my textbook.⁠
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“Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble” (Psalm 10:1, ESV)⁠?⁠
“Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and oppression” (Psalm 44:24, ESV⁠)?⁠
“Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand” (Psalm 74:11, ESV⁠)?⁠
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King David is not disciplined for asking his why questions. And even though some questions are never answered (Psalm 44), it appears “Why” is a question God is willing to listen to.⁠
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“‘Why?’ is not only permitted in Scripture; asking why can lead us into greater intimacy with God,” Esther Fleece writes in "No More Asking Why." “Think about it: who are the people you are most honest with? Probably the ones who make you feel safe. When we know we are loved, when we know we are heard, it frees us up to be our most brutally honest.”⁠
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Taking our why questions to God is an act of faith. Even when the answers don’t come, we can trust that He hears our questions. Honest questions open our hearts and invite an intimate engagement with the heart of God. If God is okay with that (and it seems that He is), then I’m all in.⁠
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Will you take your 'whys' and 'how longs' to our safe God who hears?⁠

*This devotion was originally published here at Joyful Life Magazine.

ENCOURAGEMENT FOR YOU

Life with rare disease is hard. Living it with friends makes it easier. I’d love to be your encourager as you endure this rare disease life. Let me start by sending you a list of 12 Verses to Help You Endure. I’d love to send it to you now.