Luke 2:48 NIV
48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
As a boy, Jesus and his family had just celebrated the Passover at Jerusalem with their friends and family and others from all over the country. On the way home, Mary and Joseph realised that they had left Jesus behind. Heading back, they found him at the Temple, quizzing the teachers there. Like most parents at such times their release of worry expressed itself in a cross question, ‘Why have you treated us like this!’ This crossness comes not from sinfulness, but paradoxically from their love – it is their love of Jesus that makes their loss of him so keenly felt. Sometimes as Christians we experience the same paradox – we are perplexed at the situations God allows us to face, and are left crying out ‘why?!’ We might even sound frustrated or cross. But this is ok, in fact it is an act of worship – the very act of voicing it points to our love and appreciation of him.
Are you in a ‘Why God?’ situation, or do you know someone who is? Bring your frustrations and concerns to God as a prayer.
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