“Why me?”

You’ve been there … you plan your day, stay on track, don’t get side-lined by distractions like the morning news or Facebook and Twitter or phone chit-chat. And then you pat yourself on the back as you climb in the car and head to your appointment with plenty of time to arrive, not just on time, but early! Then you pull out onto the highway and come to a standstill … there are “parked” vehicles as far as you can see. Whether it’s an accident, or construction, or some other annoying occurrence, your best-laid plans for an early arrival are now dashed! And the natural response? “Why me?” You did everything you were supposed to do, and yet here you sit waiting, and waiting, and waiting … and fuming!

How about the time you sat in the doctor’s office and heard those life-changing words: “It’s malignant!” You’d lived a relatively healthy life-style – you avoided smoking and drinking alcohol, you ate fairly healthy, you even exercised occasionally, and basically you avoided all the obvious pitfalls of wild living. So “Why me?”

You drive defensively, but you still get side-swiped by that kid in his daddy’s car. “Why me?”

You work your butt off on projects at work, and somebody else gets the promotion. “Why me?”

You put in your 20 years and look forward to retirement, and the economy bottoms out, so it’s back to the rat race. “Why me?”

Years ago, I heard my parents talking about a friend whose son had just been diagnosed with terminal cancer. The father’s reaction, and understandable so, was “Why me? Why do I have to lose my son? Why does my son have to go through this?” The response of his wife, the mother of the terminally ill young man, was “Why NOT us? Who would you choose to take our place?” Every time I’m tempted to say “Why me?” whether I’m sitting in stalled traffic or in the doctor’s office with a stalled heart, I remember this wise mother’s words. It puts my own circumstances in proper perspective. I don’t deserve to avoid pain and suffering any more than someone else deserves to be hit by pain and suffering.

So what does “Why me?” have to do with HOPE anyway? If we’re all going to face life’s hard times and frustrations and annoyances, then where’s the HOPE? What’s the point of being hopeful?

A recent Facebook video reminded me of another way of asking the question “Why me?” (Please excuse the ads. I couldn’t figure out how to get rid of ’em!) Check out this old song by Kris Kristofferson:

Why Me

Why me Lord what have I ever done
To deserve even one of the pleasures I’ve known?
Lord, what did I ever do
That was worth lovin’ You or the kindness You’ve shown?

Lord help me, Jesus, I’ve wasted it so,
Help me, Jesus, I know what I am.
But now that I know that I’ve needed You so,
Help me, Jesus, my soul’s in Your hand.

Try me, Lord, if You think there’s a way
I can try to repay all I’ve taken from You.
Maybe Lord, I can show someone else
What I go through myself, on my way back to You.

Lord help me, Jesus, I’ve wasted it so,
Help me, Jesus, I know what I am.
But now that I know that I’ve needed You so,
Help me, Jesus, my soul’s in Your hand.
Jesus, my soul’s in your hand.

The bottom line is this: If we’re going to ask “Why me?” when we’re faced with tough times, then we need to be ready to answer the other “Why me?” and acknowledge the grace, mercy, love, and HOPE that Jesus has showered on us. And that will help us answer “Why me?” with humble gratitude … and HOPE!

What a wonderful God we have—he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of every mercy, and the one who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. And why does he do this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and comfort God has given us. You can be sure that the more we undergo sufferings for Christ, the more he will shower us with his comfort and encouragement.  2 Corinthians 1:3-5 Living Bible (TLB)

What about you? What’s your response to “Why me?”