Why Me?!

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. - Philippians 1:6

Have you ever muttered to yourself, “Why me!?” I’ve chided myself with a few stronger words. And, I’ve been know to use “gallows” humor, such as in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, where Mercutio, after being stabbed by Tybalt, downplays the severity of his injury, saying, “No, ’tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church-door; but ’tis enough, ’twill serve: ask for me to-morrow, and you shall find me a grave man.”

Since humanity was rightly expelled from the Garden, we’ve had a rough row to hoe 😉. (Genesis 3:17-19) The history books don’t tell us when the first person caught a cold. The Bible doesn’t tell us about the first person to break his or her leg. There is no record of the first person who went bankrupt. We know there were firsts, but what we really care about are the conditions we find ourselves in right now.

We want our loved ones to flourish, our careers to grow, and our dreams to be fulfilled. These desires are not necessarily contrary to God’s will. (3 John 1:2) But these are not God’s top priorities on life’s timeline. We are promised joy and love, but not an easy life. (John 16:33)

For some of us, we may feel like the light we seek at the end of the tunnel is a freight train headed right at us. But that’s okay. We know that as believers in Jesus, He has promised us peace (John 16:33). And we have God’s promise in Romans 8:28

And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose. - Romans 8:28 Amplified Version

There will be a time when we have no more burdens, when we shed no more tears, when there will be no more wars. But that time isn’t now, and it isn’t what to expect before Christ’s return. So let’s not grow weary. (Galatians 6:9) We have work to do and precious little time to do it. (Matthew 24:42) You may ask, “Why me!?” The answer is that you were called for a time such as this. (Esther 4:14)

Live for Jesus. That’s what matters.