The Value of Asking “Why Me?”

Why Me?

Reading straight through Scripture, I knew the book of Job was coming next. Sighing to my husband, I began to prepare myself. Job is one of those books that I stiffen up reading. His story begins like a fairytale- prosperity, happiness, abundance. That almost makes what happens next worse.

Satan comes before God. He’s been roaming the earth, presumably busily stirring up evil. God- yes, God mentions dear Job to the devil himself.

In fact, God asks Satan if he has considered Job, pointing out how righteous and godly the man is. Satan challenges God, accusing Job of fearing God only because he has been so successful in life.

The Accusation

Glorify” means to ascribe value according to the substance of the valued.

To glorify God is to ascribe value to God according to who He really is.

In shorthand,

Glorifying God = valuing God Himself Click To Tweet

When Satan suggests that Job only reveres (values!) God because God blesses him, Satan is saying that Job doesn’t value God for God, but for his own gain.

Ouch. Prideful Satan can’t fathom that Job loves God for God. So He accuses Job of falsely worshipping God.

The Proposition

In the Bible, we read that God doesn’t flinch when Satan makes false accusations. Instead, in this case, God said “very well then.” Confident of Job’s righteousness and love for Him, God let Satan test him.

Basically, Job had a chance to defend his honor. Job, unbeknownst to himself, was going to be a witness to Satan. Because of his genuine love for God, Job was going to get to glorify God indisputably.

The Why

Imagine the honor! Imagine if God responded to Satan’s accusations with such confidence in us!

In all Job’s questioning and wondering “why me?” we never read that he thought God was honoring him. But God was!

Job’s story resonates with that of the man born blind. His inferred accusers asked the question “who has sinned that this man suffers so?” They assumed, like Job’s friends, that God doesn’t allow suffering to those who glorify Him.

Jesus’ response was consistent with God’s purposes for Job:

“This suffering is so that Gods glory might be displayed.”

The answer to our why questions involves God's glory

Asking Why With the Answer in Mind

When we go through hardship, it may not be that Satan is sifting us like wheat. It may not be that God is thoroughly confident about our pure love for Him. Likewise, it may not be punishment for a specific sin we’ve committed.

Often, hardships experienced in Scripture occur because they ultimately bring God glory.

That’s our why as believers.

“Why me?” Job could say. God’s response, according to His own record, would be: “because you fear me and this is an opportunity to glorify me.”

“Why me?” Hannah might have said. God’s response, as proven in time, was that she glorified Him in earnest prayer and bearing in His perfect timing a son who would also glorify Him.

“Why me?” the man born blind didn’t have to ask…God already answered “so that my glory may be displayed.”

“Why me?” Paul might have asked from a prison cell, but he knew the answer too, and he called himself a prisoner of Christ with joy. He was chained for God’s glory!

“Why me?” we ask.

And the answer is always in at least one way the same: so that God may be glorified…

So that God may be valued according to who He is and not for what we or others want Him to be or do.


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3 Replies to “The Value of Asking “Why Me?”

  1. This is a great post, Bethany! It’s so true- of all the reasons why we may come up with during times of suffering, it’s very easy to miss the fact that often these times can bring God glory. I love how you illustrated that with the different examples from the Bible, and that last line is amazing: “So that God may be valued according to who He is and not for what we or others want Him to be or do.” It’s easy to have a fixed idea of what we think God “should” do in a situation rather than just letting him be God!

    1. Thank you Lesley! It’s so easy for me to miss the truth of His glory in suffering and to forget that He is God, not my idea of god. Thanks for your encouragement!!

  2. Bethany! This is an amazing post, because often we shame people for asking the “why me’s,” and you’ve connected the dots to show that Scripture is able to stand up to that probing.

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