You can ask “why” all you want, but it doesn’t mean a thing if you’re not listening to the answer

I’ve talked about this a few times in the past – if you’re going to ask a question, you better stick around and listen for the response!

God hears you. He knows your heart and He knows what you’re struggling with.

Right now, I miss my mom. I miss the life I used to have and I wish with every fiber of my being that things were different. But they aren’t and that makes me so sad sometimes!

I’m generally a resilient person. I will get knocked down and typically bounce back pretty quickly. 

Lately, though, it’s been hard. Really hard. And when I get all deep into my feelings and my grief, I always end up asking WHY?! WHY!

Why did you do this? 

Why does this have to hurt so much? 

Why is it all so hard? 

Why can’t things be easier? 

Why do I have to go through this and other people don’t? 

Why am I not getting what I am working for? 

These are some of the “why” questions I ask of God. 

Maybe they look like yours. Maybe you’re appalled that I could ask these questions. Maybe you are finally empowered to ask these questions yourself.

Here’s the thing – God knows everything. This means … He knows what you’re thinking. He also knows what you’re doubting or questioning. 

You might fool your friends, but you can’t fool God. 

When I realized that he knew my every thought – whether I said it out loud or not – I started having different conversations with him and that’s honestly when my relationship really took a turn and became so much stronger. I stopped pretending and started getting real. I finally got honest and told him about my doubts, fears, and questions. 

And that  includes all the  “why?” 

And these “why” questions aren’t rhetorical either! If God gave audible answers to questions, I would 10000% sit around and listen to what he had to say. 

I don’t expect God to answer me in a verbal tone, or perhaps even in real-time. But if I ask him “Why are you doing this?” – I owe him (and myself) the opportunity to say “Here’s why”

Maybe it’s to teach me.

Maybe it’s to humble me. (we all hate this one)

Maybe it’s to strengthen me.

Maybe it’s to save me. 

But if you ask and don’t wait for an answer – what’s the point? 

I sure do wish for our Old Testament God to come down with beams of light and a thunderous voice and say “Great question! Here is why I am doing this…” but we can be pretty confident that’s not going to happen.  LOL

What we forget though, is that we have the Bible and our Old Testament friends didn’t have the word of God to guide them, lead them, remind them, or reassure them. We dont get God’s “dramatic intervention” because He’s already done that! 

We have story after story and example after example where God has proven himself by testing even the most unlikely of people, and giving them more than what they could ever ask for in return.

Which means – ask your questions, friend. He wants you to. He knows your thoughts & I firmly believe he loves when we come to him with an open heart. 

Now, as for listening to God, what does that look like? For me, it means paying attention to the things that are going on around me, keeping my heart open to change and listening to my gut/intuition/inner voice. 

I also journal a TON, which helps to just get my thoughts out, but it is also great to reflect on my past entries and see how I have changed – I often find the “why” in reading some of my own notes.

My prayer for you today is that you understand that your God loves you and knows you inside and out – even your doubts and fears – so asking questions is ok! You’re showing your ultimate faith in him and his goodness when you are fully & unabashedly open with him. Be open to hearing his voice in different ways. He wants to talk to you, so listen!

XO

Tay