Got a qustion about your life? Ask God

"The secret things belong to God"

-- Deuteronomy 29:29 (NIV)

When I was a young girl, there were times I'd inquire of my mother, why? I wasn't being sarcastic or stubborn; I just wanted to understand how or why something worked.

Sometimes I was inquiring why a happening took place. However, even though I asked the question, many times I would not get the answer I was looking for. Sometimes, my mother explained, some things we just don't understand.

Now, when it comes to relating to God as my Father, I find myself still asking why some things happen.

You may have asked some of these questions, too. Why me? Why have things turned out this way instead of the way I planned? Why do I have to wait so long to see my desires fulfilled? Why am I sick? Why am I single? Why am I feeling anxious or angry? Why am I struggling financially?

These are common questions people get perplexed about. Why don't we just ask God? He's the only one who knows.

There is nothing wrong with sincerely asking God the question why. I think we should ask God some questions. It helps us to discover his plan for our lives, and it develops a personal relationship with him. He may show us we made a choice that caused the situation to happen and we need to correct it.

It could be something that resulted from a bad choice someone else made and we need to confront it, avoid it, or simply forgive it.

Something may have happened to us as a result of an innocent attack from the devil working through another person acting out of a misguided desire of their heart. There's been times I've gained great insights from asking God "why?"

In life, we have greater questions we may never understand. A friend lost her father, mother and husband within a short span. How do you explain all that loss? Why her? Because that's the way it is, as my mother might say. The reality is, it's really God's secret.

When the answers don't come in our way or time, and we don't understand what is happening, we need to trust in the one who does.

Trusting is what God wants us to do. He has the greater plan that we can't see or understand. By trusting, we enter the emotional rest from trying to figure it all out and find a place of peace and joy, instead of the nagging voice inside our heads always asking why?

• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. Annettee will be speaking at Panera Bread in Round Lake Beach Friday, Sept. 21, at 6 p.m. Contact Annettee at Annetteebudzban@aol.com or call (847) 543-8413. She is available to speak to your group.