Inaudible
“And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose. For those whom He foreknew [and loved and chose beforehand], He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son [and ultimately share in His complete sanctification], so that He would be the firstborn [the most beloved and honored] among many believers.”
Sometimes life hits us so hard we get knocked back a couple of steps (or even on our backs). When that happens, it’s almost as if we spend our time in a fog - simply going through the motions without understanding or comprehending what just blindsided us. Other times, we experience little hits that seem to come back to back, chipping away at our strength slowly, but forcefully. Having a chronic illness can feel like either - whether it be a surprising flare or daily pain. It’s tiring, depleting, and will leave us questioning everything.
I always joke about pity parties, but “why me” is a legitimate question that deserves some focused thought. I truly believe our purpose and calling is found in the “why me,” even if it takes some time for God to pull us out of our own despondency. But while we are focused on receiving a divine answer, we miss the non-answer. Not the non-answer as in “there is no answer”, but the non-answer as in “we are not privy the true revelation of why.” The non-answer is inaudible to us as humans, and it occurs in the spiritual realm. It holds the ultimate explanation, yet in our attempt to solve the question, we fail to figure it into the big picture. Let’s break it down.
God Knows You and is Using You for a Specific Purpose
In the story of Job, we find a man who has lost everything - his children, his possessions and financial livelihood, and his health. Just as we all would and have done, Job had multiple “why me?” moments:
“Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb? Why were there knees to receive me and breasts that I might be nursed? For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest.” Job 3:11-13 NIV
“I cry out to you, God, but you do not answer; I stand up, but you merely look at me. You turn on me ruthlessly; with the might of your hand you attack me. You snatch me up and drive me before the wind; you toss me about in the storm. I know you will bring me down to death, to the place appointed for all the living.” Job 30:20-23
Through all of this, Job was unaware of what we as readers saw from the beginning - God’s motive. God was being challenged by satan, and was proving the faithfulness of Job by allowing the enemy to attack every area of his life. What an honor to be chosen by God as His faithful servant, right?! 🤔 Yeah, I would guess that any of us would probably take a big PASS on enduring all of that suffering just to prove a point to satan. And God knows His children - that’s why He acts accordingly and does not allow us to see the behind-the-scenes. Our ultimate purpose is to glorify God, and He will utilize us in sometimes difficult ways to ensure we fulfill that purpose. This concept is hard to accept when we are hurting, and it can cause us to actually pull away from Him. But His plan is never to harm you, rather to work things out for the greater good. And Job ended up with greater good - “The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part.” (Job 42:12a)
Jesus is Advocating for You
Regardless of what you are feeling or what’s confronting you, if you are a believer, Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God speaking on your behalf. Remember that the next time someone, or the enemy, tries to make you believe you messed up bad enough to bring pain upon yourself.
And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate [who will intercede for us] with the Father: Jesus Christ the righteous [the upright, the just One, who conforms to the Father’s will in every way—purpose, thought, and action]. And He [that same Jesus] is the propitiation for our sins [the atoning sacrifice that holds back the wrath of God that would otherwise be directed at us because of our sinful nature—our worldliness, our lifestyle] 1 John 2:1b-2b AMP
Christ Jesus is the One who died [to pay our penalty], and more than that, who was raised [from the dead], and who is at the right hand of God interceding [with the Father] for us. Who shall ever separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Romans 8:34-35 AMP
In all of our “why me’s” and pleas to God, we can be assured that the inaudible voice of Jesus is reminding His Father to extend mercy and grace on His behalf. Even though it may feel like we are being punished and God has left us, His perfect love is doing just the opposite.
The Holy Spirit is Praying for You
Yep, you have yet another interceding on your behalf:
In the same way the Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words. And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes [before God] on behalf of God’s people in accordance with God’s will. Romans 8:26-27 AMP
Usually, when we are in a “why me?” situation, we are at a loss for words. When we don’t know what to say to God or are finding it difficult to get out a prayer, we can be sure that the Holy Spirit is speaking to God on our behalf. In fact, the Spirit knows what we are in need of before we can even utter a “why me?”. We may not know what the Holy Spirit is saying, but we can be assured that, just like our advocate Jesus, and God, whatever is being spoken is to advance God’s will in our lives.
What we don’t know is just as important as what we do know when it comes to God’s plan. Even though life can be downright harrowing and uncomfortable, His plan is always to advance us and never to hurt us. The reality is, we are not involved in God’s thought process nor His workings, and we are not supposed to be. Our faith is what allows, and commands, us to trust the inaudible.