Why Not Me?

As human beings, at some point we have all asked ourselves “why do bad things happen to good people?” We’ll never know or understand the answer while here on Earth. There are times when bad things happen as a direct result of poor choices. Other times we struggle through hardships and tragedy without being able to explain why.

Most of us believe that we need to understand everything; we need to know why. “Why is my marriage crumbling”, “Why are the kids struggling”, “Why did I lose my job? After all, I’m a good person, I help people, and I am nice to everyone. Why me?”

We become even more confused when we see people around us who aren’t good, helpful, and nice people who seem to prosper more than us and have fewer problems than we do. “That’s not fair”, we think. No, it’s not, but we should have learned the lesson that life isn’t fair by the time we’re five years old. As hard as it is for us to accept, the world does not revolve around us. There are over seven billion people on the planet making billions of decisions every second that have no impact on us personally.

When life hits us square in the face with a 2 x 4, rather than assume the role of a victim by asking, “Why me”, let’s flip it and become the victor by asking, “Why not me?” Yes, you may be carrying the burden of a terrible ordeal right now, a broken marriage, death of a loved one, a serious illness, or children with major problems. No, you don’t deserve it, but you have to keep going.

Several weeks ago, I posted The Magic Word. The word is attitude. An attitude of “why not me” tells the world that we expect victory; we expect great things to happen in spite of the turmoil churning around us. “Why not me” gives our circumstances meaning, even if we can’t see the meaning while it’s happening.

I know some readers may be thinking this is a bunch of “win-one-for-the-Gipper”, Pollyanna blathering. I understand. We will all be wronged, mistreated, and many bad and unpleasant things will occur in our lives. But we don’t have to let those circumstances defeat us. We can win. Our persistence, our fortitude, and our ultimate victory over the turmoil may be just what someone else needs to see or hear to gain proper direction for making decisions in their own life.

There’s a lyric line in Kris Kristofferson’s song “Why Me Lord” that goes, “maybe, lord, I can show someone else, what I’ve been through myself, on my way back to you.”

“Why me” is a legitimate question in a world contaminated by trials and emotional pain. Let’s answer that question with another legitimate question.

“Why not me?”

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18