Why, God?
That is a good question to ask. Many have asked it before us:
Psalm 10:1, “Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (ESV)
Psalm 44:24, “Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?”
Somethings don’t make any sense. Eli Wiesel once said, “God and the death camps, I’ll never understand.”
Agreed.
The history of theology and philosophy is replete with possible answers to the “why” question. Some provide some guidance. But, ultimately, we don’t know.
Can we live with ignorance? I think we have to. But we are not without recourse.
Like Israel, we struggle with God.
Like Jesus, we lament.
Like Job, we protest. Like the martyrs, we ask, “how long?”
Yes, ask God:
“How long?”
“Why?”
“Where are you?”
“Why don’t you do something?”
Let us pray; and let us struggle, lament, and protest. We have great models for that in the Bible. Follow their example. It is spiritual therapy.
See also Psalms 13, 44, 77, 143; Job 3, 7, 10.
