Sometimes There Are No Answers

When disease suddenly attacks an otherwise perfectly healthy body, you ask the questions; but there are no answers.

When a marriage that began with all the hope and joy that a couple can envision ends with heartache and sorrow, you ask the questions; but there are no answers.

When a child walks away from everything you have taught him or her, refuses to explain, and cuts off all communications, you ask the questions; but there are no answers.

When what you desire in your heart is always just beyond your reach and is never fulfilled, you ask questions; but there are no answers.

When the love you crave from another human being never develops and is not reciprocated, you ask questions; but the answers do not come.

When you think you are doing the right things, making the right decisions, and moving in the right directions, but the results for which you had hoped and assumed do not materialize, you ask questions; but the answers do not come.

So what are these questions?

Why?

Why me?

Why us?

Why not?

Why now?

Why not now?

When?

How?

Ever?

When you wake up and realize that you are blessed beyond your wildest imagination, you ask questions; but there are no answers.

When your marriage has grown and matured and becomes a blessing to others, you ask questions; but there are no answers.

When your children make good choices, walk faithfully with the Lord, and experience the fullness of life, you ask questions; but there are no answers.

When you feel like a complete failure in everything you have ever done and cannot remember the last time you did something right, yet you have been blessed beyond measure, you ask questions; but the answers do not come.

So what are these questions?

Why?

Why me?

Why us?

Why not?

Why now?

Why not now?

When?

How?

Ever?

Sometimes there are no answers. At least there are no answers that we can understand. If you will look behind it all — the pain, the confusion, the frustration, the disappointment, the questioning, the joy, the celebration, the amazement — there is an answer... or at least One who is the Answer. This is the answer Who holds the answers to all the questions.

This answer is God. He is there. He has been there through it all. He will be there through it all to come. He will not leave us. He will not forsake us. He is beyond our understanding. His thoughts and reasons and actions are beyond our comprehension. He is God. He is the answer to the questions that seem to have no answer.

Ask your questions. He can handle them. You may not get the answers you want when you want them, but you can get Him. When you see Him, your questions will disappear.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the Lord."As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV).

Then Job answered the Lord:
"I am unworthy — how can I reply to you?
I put my hand over my mouth.
I spoke once, but I have no answer —
twice, but I will say no more" (Job 40:3-5).

Then Job replied to the Lord:
"I know that you can do all things;
no purpose of yours can be thwarted.You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?'
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.

"You said, 'Listen now, and I will speak;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.'

My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.

Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes" (Job 42:1-6).