Sometimes You Just Don't Know Why

Have you ever felt God telling you to do something and it made no sense? Have you ever heard Him say something and wondered “Why in the world would I do that?” What did you do then? Did you do it or did you leave it? Did you pray about it or did you ignore it? Did you write it down, or did you forget all about it?

I have heard God tell me things in the past that have made me ask Him the question that all parents love hearing from their kids: “Why??” Why should I do this? Why do I need to do that? What’s the purpose? What’s the point? And honestly, when I ask, I’m not really looking for the reason as to why I should do it, but rather an excuse not to do it.

And I’m not talking about crazy things here. I’m not talking about hearing things like the prophets heard, to walk around Jerusalem naked, lay on my side for 400 days or marry a prostitute. And I’m not talking about things that go against what I know to be the heart of God. I’m talking about simple things that just haven’t fit into my perspective of something I should do (or in my case, learn to do).

I just recently completed some leadership training for the organization I work with and in one of the sessions, the speaker posed the question: “What command has God given you that makes no sense now but could unlock a future mystery?” I remembered then some of the things God has clearly spoken to me to do (or rather, to learn), and I realized, because I didn’t know the answer to my question of “Why?” I hadn’t done those things. I haven’t been obedient to Him because I didn’t know the purpose. But obedience isn’t just doing what He says as He explains the details, it’s doing what He says when He says it without knowing all the facts. God sent Abraham to a land he did not know; he went and it was credited to him as righteousness. Abraham didn’t know where or why, but he went (eventually). That’s faith. Obedience without the details, without explanation, without the answer to the question “Why?” So, that is my challenge—to myself, but also to you. Has God told you to do something without explaining the “why?” Have you done it or are you waiting for more instruction? Let me encourage you to do it, to be faithful with what He has already given you. Because sometimes, you just don’t know why, but that’s ok. Move forward anyway.