Why not me?

There’s a question that so many people have asked, always at a time of great stress, tragedy or some other kind of negative experience, but it’s a question with no certain answer for the earth-bound human mind. It’s the “Why me?” reaction that countless individuals have heard echoing in their thoughts when something happens to them that contradicts and rebukes their assumptions about life; and especially theiimplications of how life is “supposed” to be.

Have you noticed, you never see someone puzzled and troubled for a long period of time over the same question in regard to their blessings, their good fortune, or the incredibly lucky turn of events that brought them prosperity or enormous well-being? Sure, some may briefly ponder the “Why?” question after something really good happens, as if to wonder “What did I possibly do to deserve such good things?” But then they move quickly on to acceptance, by-passing entirely other steps so common to grieving, such as anger or bargaining.

I believe the same question, or rather belief, is behind both negative and positive scenarios. The concept of what a person “deserves” is a simple assumption about how life works, one that has been around since biblical times, and was fully acted out for us in the Book of Job.

After initially reacting to his misfortunes with a statement of faith, “God gives, God takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord,” Job begins to be troubled by the apparent disconnect between his fall from prosperity and his own self-image; fueled in particular by his view of his own personal righteousness and what he “ought” to get from God in return for it.

Meanwhile, as Job protests his rough treatment at the hands of the Almighty, the three men who came initially to give comfort turned soon to giving counsel to Job for his “bad attitude”. They figured Job had gotten exactly what he had coming, as they had always assumed that sinners “reap what they sow.” Job apparently believed that also, but didn’t feel his misfortunes matched his excellent track record, which accounts for his desire to take up the matter with God, who, in his mind at least, had some ‘splainin’ to do.

After a great deal of back-and-forth between Job and his three friends, and finally a defense of God’s viewpoint from a fifth man, Elihu, God speaks for Himself. And without giving any real answer to account for Job’s troubles, the Lord more or less tells Job, “I didn’t need your advice creating the world, and I don’t need your permission to run it.”

Surely that answer won’t satisfy many modern minds, accustomed to debate and democratic processes, nor will it pass unopposed among those who prefer answers that “make sense” to the rational human mind. But, unless we could comprehend things exactly as God does, how could we expect to fully see His purposes in what He chooses to permit or plan in His world. We’re pretty smart, but not like that.

In a recent news story, a wise father responded to his loved one, who asked the “Why me?” question, by asking back to her, “Why not you?” Simply put, the things that trouble us are part of life in this broken world; a world that we broke, not God. Troubles are an “equal opportunity” experience, and they happen to all of us. We don’t need to complicate the question further by injecting the idea of who “deserves” this or that and who doesn’t. That’s the simplest and most sensible explanation we have, short of looking over God’s shoulder as He administers the affairs of a world that only He could create, and only He can run.