Why?
I have been battling some chronic health issues over the past couple of years. I chose to start with a holistic approach in searching for a remedy. While I have nothing against traditional medicine, I love that holistic doctors usually search for the root cause of an illness. Is it chronic stress? Mold exposure? Too many toxins in our food? Genetic predisposition? As I started exploring the root cause of what was going on in my body, I found myself asking the question, “Why?”
Two years later, I still don’t have a perfect answer, even though I do feel a lot better after making several lifestyle adjustments that have made a big difference in my health. Still, when symptoms flare up, it can be really frustrating not to know the answer, at least not yet.
While I love natural remedies and fully believe we have a responsibility to steward our bodies well, I have realized that leaning into root causes alone can create unhealthy fear or shame, at least for me. I might start to worry that any little thing could harm me long-term. I might end up with anxiety that there must be hidden mold somewhere in my house, even if there truly is none. Or I might start to blame myself. “Why did I eat so much junk food and have terrible sleeping patterns in my 20s?! I can’t believe I didn’t realize this was going to harm my body so badly…”
Assuming someone’s poor choices created their current circumstances is not a new concept. We find the disciples assuming this in John 9:
As he (Jesus) went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” John 9:1-3 NIV
Wait—the root cause of this man’s disability wasn’t his fault? And it wasn’t the fault of anyone else either? Nothing… caused this?
Sometimes, we go through hard times and find ourselves asking, “Why?” While there is wisdom in identifying what’s happening at the root and starting from there, sometimes bad things happen without a clear root cause. Life disappoints us. Tragedy happens. We often find ourselves turning to God and asking Him, “Why?”
Sometimes the pain we’re in has a clear root cause. We made clear, identifiable mistakes that got us into the situation we’re in. Other times, it isn’t our fault at all.
What is beautiful is that whether or not it was our fault, just like the blind man, when we surrender our pain to Jesus, He can take it and allow “the works of God to be displayed” in our lives. Whether we’re healed or not. Whether there’s a miracle or not. Whether we get the answer to prayer or we don’t.
When the time was right, Jesus healed this man’s entire lifetime of pain in one moment, and it impacted an audience so much greater than he could have ever imagined—an audience that includes you and me today. There wasn’t anything the man could have done on his own to fix his circumstances. It was the hand of God at work in his life. And just like this man, we can see God’s power on display in our lives, too.
And the best news? This doesn’t just apply to the times we go through bad things that aren’t our fault. Jesus came to redeem us from the worst messes that are fully our fault. We all fall short, but Jesus paid the price we could never pay by living a sinless life and dying on a cross, coming back to life on the third day, defeating sin and death forever. When we believe He is who He says He is and follow His plan for our lives, He redeems our story and will use it all—every broken piece—for His glory. (Romans 8:28)
Whether you’re going through something that is completely out of your hands or living through the consequences of something you did in the past, friend, I pray that you receive hope and love from Jesus today.
He is the God who forgives your sins. He is the God who miraculously heals. He is the God who makes all things work together for good. I pray that you have peace in knowing He is at work in your story today!
