Here's a question tackled in one of our weekly emails:

Q: Life can be really hard and it  doesn’t seem like God is actually providing for my needs. What now?

A: Dear reader, I (Brandon) resonate deeply with this experience! You are not alone! It reminds me of a scene in the television show “The Office,” where the lonely and hated HR director, Toby, musters up the courage to enter a church and talk to God. At first he approaches respectfully, but then he honestly blurts out, “Why you gotta always be so mean to me!?”

It’s a tender moment of reality in the middle of a ridiculous show, and we can all relate.

It also has the ring of a Psalm to me. A simple cry of anger and frustration: “This sucks! Why Lord?!” (See Psalms 10, 79, or 80 for some examples.)

So, friend, like the psalmists, take your complaint to the Lord. He will not be angry or reject you. He will listen with patience and care like a good father. Though he may still not give us what we think we need.

Which brings us to the heart of the mystery. God knows what we need (Matthew 6:8) and will not give us a snake if we ask for a fish (Luke 11:11)… but then why do we suffer without so many thing we feel are critical to our survival and happiness?

I don’t know.

And, I think “why?” is an unhelpful question.  

“What?” is a better question. “What do we really need?”

There is really only one thing critical for our survival and happiness—the love of Jesus. His love doesn’t necessarily feed us today, or keep our children out of sin and harm, or stop the pain; today.

But his love will resurrect us—body and soul—to eternal life!

Then we will be fully with the Lord and he will be fully with us! There will be no more death, no more suffering, no more need. Our deepest, truest need—our need for God—will be always and forever met (Revelations 21:3ff).

This, dear reader, is no fairy tale. It’s the truth. It’s as real as the nose on your face. I pray that you and I both have the strength to look at life with the long view—through the eyes of Jesus who has gone ahead to secure that future for us (John 14:3).

In the meantime, reach out. We all have to suffer in this life, but we don’t need to suffer alone. We can help each other limp into the next life.

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