We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed with them for a day. Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’ ” When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

Sometimes in life all we can seem to do is ask the question of God: “Why?”

I have wondered this over and over again in my life. Here are some examples: 1) Why did God take my mom early in my life, when I was 13? 2) Why was I born with a small hand? 3) Why did God give me, a sinner, such a wonderful wife and family, that I do not deserve? 4) Why did he, at times when it seemed like work and ministry have so much momentum, allow the rug to be pulled out from under me in multiple ways?

I have gotten a variety of types of answers to the above questions: a complete answer, a partial answer, and a “trust me and wait until later” answer. In the times God does answer, his plan and ways are always for my good. So I must choose to project goodness in the unanswered things of God!

Paul and the church in Caesarea likely had many questions. Paul was probably curious as to the manner under which he would suffer for the name of Jesus. God answered this through the prophet. But the people he led were likely asking questions regarding why would God take away and torture such a powerful witness of his name? He did not answer this question. And in part, we still do not know. We do know Paul wrote many of his letters while in chains.

And then there is the question: Why did they need to know he would be imprisoned in advance by a prophet and have time to let worry and fear creep in? I think the reason he allowed this is to make it 100% clear that it was God allowing this to happen for his glory in the end. God could have sent an angel or by other means rescued Paul from this imprisonment. But he chose to not intervene here. He chooses to not intervene in many hardships in this world. We don’t always know why.

What we do know is he is with us in a strong and powerful way in hardship. He was with Paul in prison in power, as he penned letters of great encouragement to the churches. It also forced the churches to develop other leaders.

So what “Why” question are you asking God today? Are you asking the question to understand his heart? Or just to remove pain and suffering in this world?

Lord, I confess, I have asked you “Why” questions so many times in an attempt to remove my challenges. I did this instead of understanding your heart and your purpose for the challenge. And now I commit to investigate the good you call me to in the middle of hardship. I will trust you, still questioning, but never defining what your answer should be. You are holy and sovereign. I am your humble servant!