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,

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.”

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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