Isaiah 6:8-9 – “Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”  NASB

Through the years I have had personal battles and listened to the stories of people who have faced incredible difficulties in life and frequently the question has been “Why me Lord?”  I have had people say things like, “What did I do to deserve this?” or “Man I must have really made God mad.”  I believe those are the wrong questions and statements based on the wrong focus. 

Life is not necessarily “fair” nor is it “predictable.”  Bad things happen to good people and often without explanation or apparent reason.  When I consider Job in the Bible, the description given of Job certainly did not warrant the dilemma and devastation he encountered. 

He did not earn it! Yet, God allowed him to be tested, and as a result, is an example to each of us on the importance of “maintaining our integrity” and not “wrongfully blaming God” for the difficulties in life.  Scripture tells us that “all things work together for good.”  It does not say that “All things are Good… There is a vast difference, and it serves us well to recognize the difference.

When God directed Jonah to go preach and proclaim the destruction to the city of Nineveh he resisted and in a sense was saying, “Why me Lord?”  When Elijah was sitting under the Juniper tree after a great victory over Jezebel and her prophets of Baal he was effectively saying, “Why me Lord?”

In our text, God asks for a volunteer and Isaiah says, “Here am I.  Send Me!”  The difference is in attitude and focus.  I believe in the case of both Jonah and Elijah they were turning the focus inward and on themselves rather than God.  Isaiah, on the other hand, was turning the focus upward and God was the center and not self.  It was not “what will it cost me?”  It was “what can I do?”  It was the reflection of a “complete commitment” to the purposes of God.  Therefore, when faced with a problem, potential, need, or opportunity there are two questions we can ask:

• Why me Lord?
• Why not me Lord?

One question leads to service although the cost may be high the other to the misery of self-pity. In fact, it could mean the end of your life on earth.  One leads to wrong focus which usually results in having a pity party, ineffective service, and often rebellion against the will and plan of God.  It does not produce the fruit of righteousness and others are not touched by the incredible Grace, Love, and Mercy of the Father. 

Instead of looking at whatever the situation we are facing and saying, “Why me Lord?” why not say, “Why not me Lord?”  I know you will see me through and if it is a dire circumstance, you will enable me to walk through it in such a way that it will become a testimony for you in a powerful way.  It will speak of your Grace, your Love, your Power, and Provision.  It will become a beacon of hope for others who encounter various trials in life and enable them to say, “With God’s help, I too can walk through this.” The Old Pioneer Preacher Burton McCafferty said, “God can pull us through anything if we can stand the pull.”

The Grace of God is an amazing thing, and it Never Fails!  The Love of God is more than the human mind can comprehend and it Knows No Bounds!  The Power of God is inexhaustible, and it Can Not Be Matched!  How can I not trust him?  Therefore, I have chosen to make my question in each situation, “Why not me Lord?” rather than “Why me Lord?” and I find that it brings a peace that is more comforting than words can describe!

Why is sometimes the right question in life but often it only leads to doubt and opens the door for confusion and bitterness?  When my Bonnie went home to Jesus, I was reminded of what I had told countless numbers of people at graveside services – “Why is the wrong question?  The right question is, Where to from here and What now?”  As Isaiah said, we should be lifting our hands and saying, “I’m yours LORD, whatever you want, I’m all in.”

May God bless you as you live this day in and through Him.  May He bring peace in your labors for the Kingdom of God!  

Have a blessed day and enjoy your life in His presence!