One of the double-edged swords God gave us when he created us was an insatiable curiosity. We just HAVE to know why things are as they are.
I call it a double-edged sword because while it helps us to increase our knowledge of ourselves and the world we live in, it also leads us down a path that we really shouldn’t be walking.
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That path we shouldn’t be on is the one where we want to know why God does what he does, or why he doesn’t seem to be doing anything.
I just posted about the lesson we learn from Job is that we don’t have the need to know why, but rather that we do need to accept whatever God does, he can do.
It is uncomfortable, I agree, to feel totally helpless, with no chance to change or even avoid whatever it is that God decides he wants to do. We humans like to think that we are in control of our lives, but the truth is while we do have some control, God is always able to change things around to be whatever he wants it to be.
There is a way to have pretty much total control over yourself, without God interfering, but it is not recommended because the way to do that is to reject God.
Truthfully, you would have to be an idiot to purposefully reject God’s protection, but then again, if you really want to have your life go the way you want it to go, you can make that choice.
I might normally say, “Good luck with that- let me know how it goes for you.” but I don’t have to because I know how it will go for you: it won’t go well. Oh, yeah, you may become rich and have all the toys, but in the end you will be in torment for all eternity.
Not really the best choice to make.
We are told that faith is how we are saved, but how many realize that part of being faithful is trusting, and trusting means not needing to ask “Why?” I know, sometimes you just want answers, and if God feels like it he may actually let you know, but there is a difference between asking God why and demanding to know why.
God is compassionate, loving, and understanding. He is also God, the Almighty, the Creator, Judge, Jury, and Executioner, and he doesn’t have to do anything we want him to do.
That’s the start and end of it. And, if I may say, the sooner you accept that, the sooner you will feel less frustrated.
There are things we need to know and there are things we will never know; the happiest people are those who faithfully accept that fact and live their lives trusting God to direct them as he sees best.
That’s really what it comes down to. Based on my experience throughout my 7+ decades, I have come to realize that we can do what we think best but God will direct us as he knows best. Even when we have tsouris (Yiddish for troubles/curses) in our life, as all people have to have, if we trust in God to get us through, without needing to know why, we will live much happier lives.
Let me leave you with this bit of sekhel (Yiddish for “understanding”) from Proverbs 14:12:
There can be a way which seems right to a person,
but at its end are the ways of death.
Thank you for being here, and please remember to share these messages with everyone you know, even non-believers. Hey, after all, you never know how fertile the soil is until you plant a seed in it.
That’s it for today, so l’hitraot and Baruch HaShem!