The Answer

“I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice?”

C.S. Lewis (Till We Have Faces).

There are times when life seem to overwhelm us; we become worried, frightened, everything seems to be going out of control. We search for solutions everywhere we think we can find one, answers even in the most unlikely places. We seek reasons, asking questions such as; why is this happening to me? Why does it have to be me? Why can’t things just be a little more straight forward? Why can’t things just be the way I want them to be, simple not complicated? So many Whys?

Remaining in such a state for a long period of time affects our minds negatively, damaging our souls, questioning our reason for existence. Our bodies suddenly seize control of our entire being, wanting things we would normally not give a thought to, desiring satisfaction from the most dangerous places, further killing our spirit and our will to live.

I believe that God, in His grace, generally allows us to know the reason for the things we go through. Yet, there are clearly times when we cannot discern the reason for our pain, and never will. At times like this, what is a person to do? If we take C.S. Lewis’s advice here, we are simply to sit back and gaze in wonder at the greatness of God, despite not hearing the answer to our question.

Psalm 34:5 tells us that; “They looked unto Him, and we lightened: and their faces were not ashamed”.

This reminds us of Job who suffered devastation upon devastation, he virtually lost all he had. The vast majority of the book was about Job asking, “Why? What have I done?” God never answers Job. Essentially, God tells Job to, “be quiet and know that I am God.” And Job’s response? “I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees Thee; therefore, I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:5-6).

It is so amazing that just by seeing Him, we have the answers to our questions, solutions to our problems. What do we have to do? Be still and know that He is God.

Even when we do not understand why something is happening, we need to step back and remind ourselves that God is on the throne. As we gaze at that throne, our hearts become still, and the things of this world, “will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”

This is something that I constantly need to remind myself. How about you?

You Are Never Alone

Inspired by Tim Thurman and C.S. Lewis.