I was having lunch with some friends and their children the other day. I was in line first, so I ordered my meal and paid. He stepped up and ordered two kids’ meals…for less than I paid for my one meal. I said, “Man, it’s so cheap to have kids.” I won’t even try to explain the reaction on his face. The cashier even jumped in and jokingly said to me, “I heard that, and I would just walk away, if I were you.” We laughed, got our food, and discussed everything from ex-boyfriends to Rick Warren, during lunch.

Later that night, I was spending time with the Lord, praying for Haiti. In the privacy, security, and safety of my personal relationship with the Lord, I asked Him the questions that every person is thinking, “Why, Lord, why? I know You’re sovereign, but why?…How could You allow this to happen?…How did this get a ‘yes’ from You?”

Now, please don’t misunderstand. I know all the Scriptural answers that are possibly running through your mind. You’re thinking about God’s sovereignty, His will, His control, His absolute right to do whatever He wants. Of course, we can’t leave out of the conversation, the presence of evil and Satan. You may have even stopped actually hearing what I’m saying, because your mind is already formulating how you’re going to comment on this post and what Scripture you’re going to use to defend God.

Here’s the thing: First of all, God doesn’t need you or anyone else to defend Him. Secondly, I know all of that. AND I believe it. I do. But the hurt, pain, chaos, and death is sometimes too much for me to handle. Like I said, I asked those questions in the privacy and security of my personal relationship with the Lord. He knows my heart, what I’m thinking, what I’m feeling, what I need. So He allows me to cry out to Him and we work through it together. As I share my heart, He shares His. Praise You, Father, that You speak to Your children.

So as we spent time together, my gracious and glorious God spoke to my heart. The Holy Spirit brought to mind the earlier situation at Chick-fil-a. He said (and please understand, this was an impression to my heart, not an audible voice), “You aren’t the Creator of the world. You have no clue what it’s like…just like earlier today–you have no clue.” See, I don’t have kids, so my flippant comment about kids being cheap, had absolutely no credibility or understanding of reality.  In the same way that I have never bought hundreds of diapers for two kids under the age of two, I have never created the universe with a word. I haven’t had to provide every meal for two little boys since they were born, and likewise I have never created life from dust. I could go on and on with examples. Instead, I’ll just quote the living and active Word of God. Isaiah 40:13-14 says:

¹³ Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor? ¹⁴Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding?

The implied response to these questions is “no one.” We do not know why God does things, because His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). It’s our pride that thinks He owes us an explanation. It’s our humility that says, “I trust You.” This lesson was huge, not because I didn’t know it. Rather, it was one more opportunity for the Lord to show me His heart to comfort me, love me, and be in an intimate, covenant relationship with me. I love that He speaks to us. What is the most recent lesson spoken to your heart? I love that He cares about us. What is the most recent way that He has shown His love to you? If you don’t know Jesus as your personal Savior yet, be assured that He is pursuing you with His whole heart. He has nothing but love for you. Respond to Him today.

Please be in prayer for Haiti. Prayer is our opportunity to join God in His work on the earth. For whatever reason, this tragedy in Haiti got a “yes” from the Lord. We know from Scripture that God will only do or allow things that will bring glory to Himself, so we can be sure that He is working through this situation. It is our privilege to join Him. Pray.