Why Me Lord?

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. [James 1:2-4]

QUOTE: Stop asking why I am still stuck in this situation and start asking what I need to learn from this situation (My Dear Valentine).

I look at the early years when I first came to know the Lord. During those initial years, I had the privilege of spending many days alone with the Lord. There was a particular day that I remember vividly as if it were yesterday. I was backcountry skiing with my doggie Angel on Jones Pass on another beautiful blue-sky Colorado day.

For those of you who don’t live in snow country, backcountry skiing involves a lot of hard work, because you have what is called skins on the bottom of your skis so you can ski up the mountain! Yes, I did say up!!! No super duper fast quad chair to get you up the mountain, just human quads at work here! I share this because most of my profound God moments have happened while I’ve been outdoors and in the middle of an intense workout!!

As I was ascending this particular mountain, a thought dropped into my head which, of course, was that quiet, powerful voice of God. The voice said, Cathy, in your journey with me there is never room or need to ask WHY. You don’t need to ask WHY because you are my child and I will be with you through ALL things, you will never be alone!!

Why am I single, why do I have challenges, why isn’t my family life perfect, why does this happen, why me, why why why why?  Maybe I’m the only one who needed to hear that message, but I’m going to guess someone else may have asked God WHY a few times, too (hopefully I’m not the only one).

When something tragic or awful happens to us, sometimes instead of drawing closer to God, we get mad, cast blame, curse Him or even walk away. Then to add even a greater insult, we ask him, why? Personally, I think for those of us who have a relationship with the Lord, it is appalling to ask this question and it is something we need to consciously work on eliminating.

Asking “why” demonstrates a lack of faith in God Almighty. If we are walking with him, he is the one directing our steps, so questioning the direction negatively or angrily is rude. We were never promised that living for the Lord would be easy. In fact, we are told we will have trouble (John 16:33).

The book of James teaches us that it is in these times of hardship that our true character develops. If we press into the Lord, instead of pulling away, this is when our relationship can deepen. Developing a very deep connection with the Lord does not happen in the good times or when life is easy. It happens in the fire, and through the storms, and when all biscuits are flying. It develops when we learn to trust God, lean into him, and truly believe that He’s got this (whatever this is). It’s when we choose to become who God has destined us to be instead of questioning and asking why.

Asking “why” could be considered arrogant and prideful. Asking why is also, a sign of immaturity and unwillingness to grow spiritually. Really, who am I to question God? Now, don’t get me wrong, because there are times, for sure, when we should ask God all sorts of questions. There are times we should go to the Lord and ask why. The Lord says he will answer us and there is nothing that we shouldn’t ask for. But there is a time and a season to ask those questions and to ask the question “why?”. Asking “why” or “why me?” when something happens that we didn’t want to happen or even when something tragic happens is not the right time.

I was stopped in my tracks and couldn’t even move for a few minutes as I pondered these thoughts (while looking at those beautiful snow-capped mountains and blue sky). My journey has been designed by God Almighty, and whenever I face trials, I need to remember that testing produces perseverance and perseverance makes me stronger in the Lord. I stood there for a good ten to fifteen minutes with these thoughts…

At that moment, I made a decision to not ask why when biscuits are flying. With this decision came an overwhelming sense of peace but please note this change didn’t happen immediately. It took time and many more friendly reminders! However, along this journey I learned to embrace what I call the Powerful Four Stellar Thoughts:

1. LEARN: Choose to look at any painful situation as a learning opportunity. I learned to ask, what am I to learn from this, help me to be open to learning, and allow me to recognize what YOU want me to learn. Learn how to think differently if needed.
2. CHANGE & GROW: Show me, Lord, what needs to change or how I need to grow. What could I have done differently if anything; is there something I need to change, do I need to take a different direction, or do I need to implement a new strategy? Help me, Lord, to see what I need to do to change and help me to be willing to grow during this time.
3. SERVE: How can I serve my way through these flying biscuits? I have found that when I am hurting, I become even more of a hermit. So, for me personally, I have to force myself to reach out and intentionally look for ways to serve others.
4. PRAISE: Sing a praise and worship song or write down what you are grateful for; praise your way through your situation and maybe even be thankful for those biscuits that are flying…I find that being thankful no matter what changes the entire situation.

It takes faith to trust God when detours and roadblocks happen, it takes humility to say: “Yes Lord, I believe that you do know the best for me”, and it takes maturity to decide to not ask why every time a biscuit flies. But please remember we can only do this through Stellar Thinking and believing that You Are Who God Says You Are. [ps. Please note this cannot be done without the power of the Holy Spirit].

WHY ME LORD: That’s what this entire book is about developing our Stellar Thinking so we can walk through any biscuit-flying season and come out stronger than before we went in. Even more importantly, nurturing a deeper connection and relationship with the Lord.

So, may I challenge you that when biscuits are hitting the fan instead of asking “why”, you stop, take a big breath, and pray that you can embrace the powerful four stellar thoughts: LEARN, GROW, SERVE, AND PRAISE.

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DAILY ACTION STEP
Say to yourself out loud
I AM WHO GOD SAYS I AM

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FRIENDLY REMINDER: take out your journal and write down your thoughts, takeaways, and progress for this week!

TAKEAWAY GEMS

• Train yourself to not ask “why” when biscuits hit the fan.
• We grow the most during biscuits’ flying seasons than in times when they are just sitting in a pretty cookie jar.
• Asking “why” is arrogant and prideful.
• Asking “why” at the wrong time is a sign of immaturity.
• Asking “why” is a sign of unwillingness to grow spiritually.
• Choose to look at biscuit flying situations as learning opportunities.
• Choose to change and grow when biscuits are flying.
• Choose to serve when all biscuits are flying.
• Choose to praise God and thankful through biscuit flying seasons.

QUESTIONS TO “THINK ON”

1. What are some biscuit flying seasons that have happened to you that you asked “why”?
2. What are some things you could do differently that will help you get through the next biscuit flying season, without asking “why”?
3. What are your thoughts on asking “why”?

ACTION STEP BREATHE: Learn to breathe and give yourself grace. When you find yourself asking “why” and being stressed out, simply stop, and take a deep breath. Repeat and do this three times. Deep breaths help you get grounded and can help you focus on what is empowering instead of going down the self-sabotaging “why me” path. Also, this breathing time will give you a moment to re-group and give yourself grace instead of beating yourself up. Then work on those 4 steps to learn, change or grow, serve, praise, and be thankful.

DAILY SCRIPTURES

DAY 1: So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. [Hebrews 4:16]

DAY 2: Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. [Hebrews 11:1]

DAY 3: Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. [James 1:2-4]

DAY 4: If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. [James 1:5-6]

DAY 5: And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. [Philippians 4:19]

DAY 6: Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. [Philippians 4:6]

DAY 7: O Lord, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide when I am in trouble? [Psalm 10:1]