Simon Sinek's book, "Start with Why" purports the idea that knowing your "why" in life will give your life purpose and that purpose will drive the decisions you make each day. That brief synopsis of Sinek's book does not even come close to doing justice for the breadth of insight and knowledge that the book deserves. I highly recommend adding "Start with Why" to your reading list. The premise of Mr. Sinek's book is to encourage us to find our "why" in life. Not to be confusing, but too often our "Why?" question isn't the journey to realizing our calling in this life we have been given to live, instead it is the question that we ask when we can't seem to find purpose in our lives ups and downs, ins and outs, or victories and defeats. That "Why?" question may be better suited as the question of "Who?"
When an adverse situation occurs in our lives, one of the first questions asked is "WHY?" "Why did that tragic car accident happen?" Receiving an unexpected medical report lends itself to asking "Why me?" Relationships end and we just can't seem to justify the "Why did that happen to me or us?" Where Simon Sinek encourages us to know our "why" in life, I am here to share with you that knowing your "why" in life is important, but when the question is "why" did this happen to me, we better know "Who" is in charge and has set His purpose for your life in motion even before you were born. (Jeremiah 1:5)
When tragedy strikes attempting to find the why is almost pointless, there is no valid explanation for the unexpected death of a child, and there is no logical way to answer the "why" of how one person receives cancer treatment and is healed and another person with the same diagnosis receives the message that their treatment was unsuccessful. There just isn't a reasonable answer to those types of situations. It is hard to not ask that question, yet my faith tells me to not ask "why", but instead I believe the better question needs to be "Who?" Who is in control of this world and "Who" walks with me through the valleys of life and provides me peace in the face of adversity.
Throughout the Bible God reminds us that His plans are bigger than anything we can conceive. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9. Paul shared that "... we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28. And one other of the myriad references to God's pre-planning for your life that the Apostle Paul provides, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10. The promises of God and His Word are true and can be trusted. We have to change our mindset from "why" did this happen, to I'm not sure why this happened, but I know "who" is in control and his plans are not my plans. I will trust and believe!
What I am suggesting today is not an easy task. Tragedy often invokes the question "Why?" That is going to be our initial reaction. That is human, we hurt when adversity or affliction hit home and regardless of our faith walk, we can't fathom how something horrific could happen in our lives if God truly loves us. This is where faith starts walking. For anyone that does not know God, truly knows God, this is a tremendous task. Having a relationship that is constantly growing and maturing makes this possible. We aren't asked to explain the "why", we are asked to lead others to the "who". Knowing God, trusting God, and allowing God to direct your path, makes the struggles and pain of this world beyond bearable. We are more than over-comers, we are conquerors through the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39.
Place your trust in the One "who" walks alongside you and makes clear your path today. Amen.
Coach Carter
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