I am a very inquisitive person. So, naturally, when I am brokenhearted, I want answers. I want to know why she thinks that way, why he did that, why me? Why, why, why? Here is the flaw with "why" questions: they only invite hurt to walk back through the door. Finding answers to why something happened actually does not matter. Rather, we have to cling to God's promises.

"Why did he cheat on me?"
"Why would you do that to me?"
"Why did you not treat me better?"
"Why would you allow me to hurt like this?"
"Why did you not think through your actions?"

Something I am slowly learning is this: more often than not, there is not a good answer to combat our questions. We want to know why, we want to know how, but instead, we just need to know that God has allowed it, therefore it is good. Every single time I ask the earthly questions that are meant to make me feel better, I am gut punched all over again. Aimlessly questioning life is exhausting and will not make me feel better. No, but all the while, the Lord is shouting at me saying "Those answers will not fill you, but my promises can!"

Now, I am trying to look at life a bit different. Any time I become filled with shallow, dead-end questions that really don't have a good answer, I turn to God's promises. Three promises that I love most are these:

Romans 8:37-39 "No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us."

Isn't that incredible? Despite your pain, despite your questions, despite your situation, overwhelming victory is ours because of our Lord. The questions, the "why did this happen to me", none of it matters. Victory is ours all the same.

Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."

We have to be careful with this verse. This is not saying that God will give you that undeserving boy just because you think he is hot. This is not saying that God will give you that job just because it pays well. Earthly desires is not what this verse is referring to. It is saying that when our eyes are strictly focused on God, our desires then become godly desires and the Lord will honor those. I love that thought. If I draw close to God, my questions will disappear. My thoughts will turn to God and He, in turn, will fill my cup.

And my most favorite:

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

This verse sweeps me away any time I read it. I have gone through many painful events. That is valid and true. Of course, my flesh will have questions that I think should be answered. But then I read this verse. Immediately I realize that bad things happen for a purpose. I realize that it was all in God's beautiful, eloquent plan for my life, which He has promised is good. With this is mind, the questions are starved. I no longer need answers because I can rest in the fact that God is in control.

Today, I want to stop searching on earth for answers that don't really matter, answers that won't really make me feel better. Instead, I want to remember those three promises from God: Victory is ours, God will fill our cup, and His plan for us is good and saturated with hope.