When I hear or read the headlines, I often shake my head at the behavior of people. When you hear of a tragic accident or another killer on the rampage, don’t you wonder how people can get to that point? Sometimes the victims will ask, “Why did this happen to me?” They may have lost their homes or were injured or lost a loved one, and trying to make sense of it all they are asking “Why me? Why did this happen to me?”
We ask that question when tragedies come into our lives, as though we expect life to go smoothly and be trouble free. But the truth of the matter is that we ALL have trouble and problems and hardship in our lives. Not all of it makes the national news, but that makes it no less devastating to us. We have our individual circumstances that lead us to ask, “Why me?”
The short answer is simple. Sin. Every problem that exists in this fallen world is because it is a fallen world. The perfection we long for eludes us because sin came into that which God had created and declared good, corrupting it completely (Romans 8:18-22). Sin’s presence in the world causes all of the problems that afflict us all. It is sin that causes someone to walk into a theater or school or church and start shooting strangers. It is sin that causes terrorists to blow up buildings. It is sin that brings tragedy and pain into this world.
When I think of that, I am even more amazed that God would send His Son into this corrupt world to share our existence, our very flesh. While He came into a world full of sin, He was without sin. And He never sinned, even when He experienced the worst this world could throw at Him. What kind of love is that? Even more, this sinless one voluntarily took the sins of the world on Himself so that He could be your substitute in punishment, paying for your sin (1 Peter 2:22-24). The full force of sin is what led Him to be unjustly accused, arrested, tried, convicted and crucified. He did that for you. And then rose again in victory, also for you. Believe it to be true and it is yours.
That knowledge leads me to ask “Why Me?” in an entirely different context. I know my struggles, my problems, my failings. But I also know my Savior’s love. Why was He willing to do all He did for me? The only answer I have is “God so loved the world”—including me—“that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Those who have experienced tragedy and loss and are struggling need our prayers. Pray for comfort, for healing, for help, for peace. And include yourself in those prayers, for as I said earlier, we all have our struggles. But don’t forget the blessings that God has given, none of which you deserve, when you are talking to Him.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy… (Psalm 103:2–4 ESV)
