I think we all go through times in life where we wonder, ‘Why’?
Why are my children not following God?
Why did my marriage fail?
Why do I go through so much physical pain?
Why do I have to endure so much abuse?
Why do we struggle financially?
Why did my loved one die?
Why did I lose my job?
Why is cancer ravaging my body?
Why is everything in our home falling apart?
Why does my child suffer so much?
Why? Why? Why?

I have my own share of ‘why’ questions, and they all lead to the question of ‘If God is able to change any situation for us, and I know that He can, with His mighty hand, then why doesn’t He?’

I have learned that this line of thinking can lead to much toxicity in my mind and soul. The enemy loves weakening us through this line of thinking.

I think the biggest ‘If You, God, were able, then why didn’t you?” leads back to a cold winter day a few years ago when I sat beside the stiff, life-less, body of Mikail and begged God, ‘If you raised Lazarus from the dead, You are able to raise Mikail to life. I know You can. Breathe Your breath into him! Please, God! Please!’

And He didn’t.

Where do we allow our minds to go when God says ‘No’, even though we know He is able? The easiest thing is to turn our backs on God. Believe me, that was a real option for me at times, but somehow I always came back to the knowledge that God is sovereign. God is in control. There is a reason why the answer was ‘No’. I may never know, this side of heaven, but I do know that God is good and God is sovereign. No, it doesn’t make our everyday life easier. It doesn’t make the ‘missing him’ go away. It does give some sense of comfort though.

One thing I started doing last year was what I call my ‘Nevertheless’ thinking:

Life hurts.
Nevertheless, life is a gift from God–a gift I must honour.

Mikail died.
Nevertheless, he is now with God.

People’s words sting.
Nevertheless, God’s strength is what will pull me through.

I feel hopeless.
Nevertheless, God is present in my depths of despair.

Regardless of the outcome of my life, the ultimate ‘nevertheless’ is that God has a plan. He is sovereign. If we focus on the negative, toxicity will take over our mind and soul, and open the doors for the enemy to darken our souls. And that’s his plan. We have got to fight this. God is our hope.

Mercy Me solidified my ‘Nevertheless’ way of thinking with their recent song Even If:

May you walk through today with thoughts of ‘Nevertheless’, that recognize that God IS able, but even if He doesn’t, our hope is still in Him.

I hope you join me in making this our anthem this week: