Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; Think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 HCSB
This verse is my mother’s favorite Bible verse and is written on a wall hanging in our home. She has shared it with our children and many others in their hour of need. It is also one of my favorites. I have memorized it and have quoted it many times through the years. This is a comforting verse when we struggle to understand why bad things happen that do not seem to be fair or just. We question and wonder why God would allow tragedies to come into our lives.
This verse reminds us to trust the Lord. The word trust appears in Psalm 22:9 and seems to evoke the image of a small child resting peacefully in the arms of his mother. Even when we do not understand the “why” of what has happened, we can always trust God because He is our Heavenly Father and only wants the best for each of us. Trying to figure out the “why” is often futile. Our focus should be on following God’s ways instead of pursuing our own understanding. As we seek God’s ways He will give us guidance and keep us on the path of the righteous.
Challenge: What has happened in your life that causes you to ask God, “Why”? It is hard to understand why small children die in an accident or a young mother dies of cancer, or someone has to suffer because of the evil of others. Do not rely on your own understanding. Instead, trust God and rely upon Him to cause good to come even out of the pain in life.