Asking Why Puts Us in Good Company

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  Reading these words in Psalm 116:7 (KJV), “the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee,” reminded me of conversations with two of my strongest Christian friends. On the same day, both spoke of being mad at God. One said a relative felt angry because of what she considered the undeserved suffering that came into the life of her young child. “Why didn’t God do something?” The other friend spoke of a huge disappointment she had experienced. “Why didn’t God stop this?” Both friends felt God had not dealt bountifully with them. He hadn’t done what they asked and expected. He…

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Voices in the Night

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By Janet Chester Bly A wounded friend of mine wept. “I prayed very hard my husband wouldn’t leave. Every day and night I prayed. But he left anyway.” What kills hope? Fear or rage will. Guilt and doubt try to. Sin does. Prayer answers of “No” and death of a dream can. Hopelessness has the ability to make us mentally intoxicated—without reason, moderation, or judgment. Our wits become all spur and no rein. We lose confidence that good things will ever happen again when we hit rock-hard bottom. The traumas of this world soil innocence and blind our view of…

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