Why with the cares of our World
Do you not step in
Lord God Jehovah
Why do you seem to stand aside
Why when we know you know
When we know you care
When we know
You can do anything you choose
Why do you let us weep
Do you weep too
You do weep too
We know you do
Because you wept for Mary and Martha
At their brother’s tomb
Knowing full well you would
Raise Lazarus from the dead
The next moment
But you wept for them
Mary and Martha
As you weep for us
Why then why
When you could change it all
Do you hesitate
Sometimes you step in
To answer prayer
While other times
Silence whispers wait
As with Lazarus
While you waited
He died but
You waited with purpose
I’m listening Lord
You don’t tell me things
In one large sentence
With an audible voice
As I wait with eager ear
But you reveal to me
One day at a time
Secrets perhaps
I’d never know
If I didn’t ask
And you didn’t show
You bring peace to me
When I ask you why
You don’t brush me off
You are a loving God
I am a flea
But you treat me
As one beloved
I matter to you
I know
We all matter to you
I will trust you
I will thank you
And praise you
And
I will continue
To ask you
Why Lord Why
Why Lord Why
By Carol Ann Hoel © December 20, 2010
______________________
Isaiah 55:8-11 (The Bible)
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Cah4el's Blog 
Wow. This is great stuff!
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Thank you, Duke. We have a great God. Blessings to you always…
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beautiful, soulful poem carol. a poem like this can come from a beautiful soul like you.
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Thank you for stopping by to visit, Trisha. And thank you for your sweet comment. Blessings to you always…
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Thanks for your blessings they light up every day with lot more light.
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Thank you for stopping by again. It’s always encouraging to hear from you. Blessings forever…
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A very relevant subject for many people. At one point in time we’ve all asked why Lord why. You’ve written it with beauty and reverence. Great piece Carol!
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Thank you, Te’Kia. I appreciate your stopping by and leaving me this encouraging comment. Blessings to you always…
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Carol, this is really top-notch! It is a question that all of us who love our God ask – over and over. It is also a question that really has no answers – for us now, anyway. But if this were my poem, I would change one line:
“Sometimes you do step in
You answer prayer
But at other times
You wait with silence”
I think I would emphasize the WAIT part, because with the “Sometimes” in there, it seems to imply that Sometimes God does NOT answer at all (or seems to ignore us)! You of course know that God always answers prayer. As the old saying goes, sometimes the answer is “No,” and sometimes the answer is, as you said, “Not now,” or “Wait.”
The “whys” we ask of God I believe were God’s way of teaching us patience, but also, and more importantly, to teach us to SEE! To stop, look, reassess and consider how perhaps the answer has already been provided, or to learn to accept that there is no answer this side of eternity. As you say, we need to learn to trust, and to recognize that God knows us better than we know ourselves, and God knows what we are prepared to understand, and for what we are not!
We are so blessed to have, honor, and worship a God who is unknowable. I’ve always felt that if we had a god we could completely know and understand, then that god would not be God. So many people have a god that is far too small. The god we create for ourselves (rather than the other way around), is merely some creature of our fantasy, who would march to the beat of our own drummer Hardly a god in which I would place my trust – my sense of “rhythm” is not very good! My God is vast, infinite, omniscient, benevolent, and omnipresent – as near as the air I breathe, unseen except in God’s actions, yet all the while approachable, intimate, and tangible in our hearts.
If you have not, I suggest that you read “Your God is Too Small,” by J. B. Phillips. I first read it as a teenager, and it opened my eyes. I have since gone back to it over and over again. It gave/gives me a glimpse of myself, as well as a glimpse in the hearts of other people, and their own understanding of God. Also, J. B. Phillips’ paraphrase of the scripture is wonderful, and gives me new insight when I read the scriptures. I always love to read various translations and paraphrases when I am studying, because they offer so much help when we are reading – to shed new light on what previously I had not understood fully. J. B Phillips also did a paraphrase of the New Testament, and I highly recommend that, as well as William Barkley’s study/paraphrase/translation of the NT. His exposition on each section of scripture is marvelous! A great group-study resource as well.
I’m probably preaching to the choir on this comment, but I wanted you to know how much I particularly enjoyed this post, and it stimulated my meditation this morning. Thank you! Have a joy-filled Christmas! God bless. Paula
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Thank you for visiting and commenting, Paula. How sweet of you to take the time to analyse and offer a suggestion. I changed the verse you mentioned. Blessing to you…
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Excellent. We will only know the answers when He wishes to reveal them or we open our eyes to see the lesson unfold before us.
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Yes, I think you have summed it up. God is good. Thank you for stopping by and for your comment. I enjoyed your recent post on the fog in our lives. Blessings to you…
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Even in the midst of trusting there is still room to ask why. What wonderful freedom to question we have been given.
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Freedom is a sacred concept. You have expressed the blessedness of our God who loves us unconditionally. We are allowed to ask why, perhaps even encouraged. Thank you for stopping by and for your insightful comment.
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I ask why sometimes, too. You have the most remarkable talent of writing, Carol Ann, whether it be poetry or other – that always seems to end with answers. Blessings, dear friend.
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Aw, Bonnie, you bless my heart with your kind comment. Thank you for stopping by and for your warm and friendly blog that I enjoy so much. Blessings to you…
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The mystery is not always easy to live with, but it somehow provides us a way to live in it and through it. Faith is not characterized by belief without questions: it is rather the act of believing through, around, in spite of, and because of questions. Many times I find that the questions are the path that leads me to God.
Thank you for writing so eloquently and beautifully about the questions that form your path, as well as some of the the answers that grow along the way.
Peace to you,
Jennifer
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Thank you for stopping by, Jennifer, and for an insightful comment. I agree with you entirely. We must trust a loving and all-wise God to do what is best for us. Blessings to you…
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“When we know you know, when we know you care.” How beautiful and true!
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Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate your visit. Blessings to you…
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Thank you for the reminder to trust. His thoughts are higher than ours . . . I’m having trouble being patient and waiting for him to work in the hearts of some of our friends and family. But he has a plan! And I have to rest in that, and in his timing.
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Thank you for stopping by, Jenna. I, too, have loved ones I pray for. I see his hand of provision for them and it encourages me. Like you, I know He has a plan for them and for me, and I must wait and watch it unfold. Blessings to you…
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What a lovely poem. Made me think how important it is to sit;listen; and be aware of the presence of God in all things and situations. Blessing on you Carol.
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Thank you for stopping by, Linda. I appreciate your comment and I agree with you. Blessings to you, also…
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As always, Carol Ann, you’ve written with great depth of emotion and thoughtfulness!
When our two-year-old grandchild was visiting last weekend her response to almost every statement or question was, “Why?” It’s typical of her age, I know, but it also reminded me that as children of God we’re prone to ask “Why”, too. Sometimes I think God, like many parents, must want to answer, “Why not?” I can’t begin to second-guess Him, but I wonder if, when we are crying out, “Why don’t you fix the world, God?”, He is quietly replying, “Why don’t you?” If everyone worked to improve his or her own space in this world it could be a very different place. Unfortunately not everyone does or will. Through generations since creation the world’s sin has helped it evolve into an imperfect place. However, God didn’t say we would never experience pain or tribulation. What He said was that he would always help us bear whatever comes our way. And He does. He keeps His promise. From the perspective of typical children we continue to wonder and question, but there is assurance that one day His answers will all become clear.
Some days all there is to cling to is trust in God and His promises. It has to be enough.
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Thank you for a precious comment, all of it, and your finishing statements embrace the essence of living by faith: “Some days all there is to cling to is trust in God and His promises. It has to be enough.” You have summed it up perfectly. He is enough. I know you understand where I may be headed because you’ve been there. You are a blessing to me, Carol. Blessings to you always…
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Such a beautiful poem Carol – you are inspired to write such words. Thanks also for sharing the verses from Isaiah. Blessings to you my friend xx
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Thank you, Chloe, for visiting and for your kind comment. I appreciate your stopping by and I enjoy stopping by your blog, too. Blessings to you always…
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