Why?? 

 "LORD, God of Israel," they cried, "why has this happened to Israel?
Judges 21:3
 
How often has the cry gone up to our Heavenly Father … ‘Why has this happened?’
A sudden illness, a bereavement, a breakup, a robbery etc. and the cry goes up to Heaven … ‘Why?

There are so many possible answers to each question. 

In the passage above, the answer is to be found in the appalling behaviour of some of their countrymen, but often the answer is much more obscure and requires a good measure of wisdom and discernment.  Sometimes God deliberately withholds the answer for reasons best known to Himself.

A better question is to ask ‘What? and How?’

• What do you want me to do in this situation? 

• How should I be thinking about this event?

• What can I learn from this situation?

• How can my faith be strengthened through this?

Many times  ‘Why …?’ should be left on the shelf. 

‘What …?’ and ‘How …?’ are much more productive.