The events of the past several days in Specht household, our church and our nation could certainly cause one to ask "Why?"
From a historic election to the tragic loss of life for a close family friend, the question of "why?" has come to mind more than once. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why does God heal some and not others? Why do major expenses hit when we are trying to save money? Why? Why? Why?
A Divine Appointment
For the past four weeks, I have been leading a bible study on the subject of "There's Nothing Too Hard for God." As a group, we watch a DVD about some miracle God has performed in the life of a real person and then discuss what we have seen.
This week's lesson was titled "No Illness Is Too Great." I had watched the video twice and felt prepared to lead the class.
Literally minutes before the beginning of church Wednesday, we received word that 8-month-old Jordan Buffington was not expected to make it much longer. He has been in the hospital since birth and his lungs just were not developing to the place where he could survive without the help of a ventilator — and now, even the ventilator wasn't getting the job done.
Doctors told the family there was nothing more that could be done.
I believe it was not a coincidence our class was slated to learn about divine healing. With the events leading up to class, we felt it appropriate to spend most of the time in prayer.
A Little One's Life
Jordan’s very existence was a miracle in itself. He had not been expected to live during pregnancy, and certainly wouldn’t survive delivery. He did both.
Bad report after bad report came during the last eight-plus months, and each time, Jordan overcame the odds and survived.
So why now? Why had God allowed Jordan to live this long, only to have him die now?
God and Job
As Christians, we look to the Bible for answers. We believe it is God’s will to heal — that the stripes upon the back of Christ Jesus were for our healing. (Isaiah 53:5)
The answer in God’s word is really something we don’t want to hear. It is also found in the book of Isaiah:
Isaiah 55:8-9 (New International Version)
8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.
9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
When we ask “Why?” he says, “Because I am God.”
Not exactly the most comforting of statements, is it? However, it is true. We cannot see beyond ourselves and our circumstances. When we ask “why” what we are really saying is “God, you owe me an explanation.”
Even Job repeatedly asked God why he was going through the circumstances in his life. While we have the knowledge of God’s greater plan when we read the story in the Bible, Job was totally in the dark. In fact his friends said he must have some sin in his life that is causing this, and his wife even suggested he “curse God and die.”
When God finally answered, it wasn’t some grand explanation of the great plan for his life and its affect on thousands of lives down the road. He rebuked Job, asking him “Did you create the heavens and the earth?”
It was as if God was saying, “None-ya” to Job. However, God’s answer definitely follows Isaiah 55:8-9. As we see from our perspective of this story, the “way” as we see it is higher than the “way” Job saw it.
In the end, Job repented of his questioning and as we find out in the rest of the story, things are restored and increased back to Job.
God’s Answer to our Questions
Is it a sin to question God? Certainly not. But don’t be surprised when the answer to your question isn’t what you want to hear.
I believe God had a plan for Jordan while he was here on the earth for eight-plus months. I also believe that there is a plan in the works that will come as a result of his life here and his departure from the Earth Wednesday night. That doesn’t mean it hurts any less or that it is any easier to deal with the situation.
It also doesn’t mean we won’t ask “why?” It is human nature to want an explanation why things happen. And “Because I am God” is sometimes hard to just accept.
However, God promises in His word that he will help in this area as well.
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
We need that peace when we don’t understand. And only the peace of God can accomplish that task. It is how we can deal with the “higher ways.”
With the passage of time, the pain of loss subsides a little. In addition, the plan of God will continue to unfold, bringing a little more understanding and acceptance.
I believe that Jordan Buffington received a complete and full healing in his body Wednesday night. While it wasn’t the “way” we wanted or expected, it was God’s “way.”
I am reminded of the second verse of the Hymn, “What a Day That Will Be.”
There’s be no more sorrow there
No more burdens to bear
No sickness no pain
No more crying over there
And forever I will be
With the one who died for me
What a Day, Glorious Day That will be.
On Wednesday, November 5, 2008, Jordan Buffington reached his “glorious day.” For that, I give God thanks.
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