01/08/2022
Why me Lord?
Billy Joe Gooden
How many times have you or someone asked, "Why me, Lord?" when found with a health, financial, or personal problems? "Why did this happen to me?" and "What have I done to deserve this?' are questions often asked during troubled times. How many of us ask these same questions in regard to our good health,
our ability to make a living, our ability to keep the home and care for our
children, as well as the ability to make our home a place of love and security?
How many of our young people ask these questions in regard to being blessed with parents that love and care for them? "Why me, Lord? What have I done to deserve such blessings in my life?"
In May of 1994 I was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. At that time I was 55 years old. My wife and I were told that I had two to five years to live. Of course, this was quite a shock. Some time later my wife asked the question, "Why did this happen to you?" had even asked myself this question when I was first diagnosed. My immediate answer was, "Because I was born." You see, from the time we are born into
this world we begin to die. Each day we live is one day closer to that appointment we all must keep (Hebrews 9:27), unless, of course, the Lord should return first. It seems we sometimes forget that when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, sin entered the world, bringing with it sickness, suffering, and death. We all have to deal with these things, but thanks to God, we can overcome them (1 Corinthians 15: 57, 58).
Friends, please listen to me. We live in a busy world, one that demands too much of our time. Unfortunately many of us stay so busy with the things of the world that we often forget to take time to study and meditate on
the Word of God and often fail to commune with God in prayer. We take too many things for granted and fail to thank God as we should. "Why me, Lord? Every time I ask this question I think of another blessing for which I ought to be thankful. For example, I am now 57 years old, and I stand amazed that God blessed me with 55 years of almost perfect health. I have been able to run and play, participate in sports, fish, hunt, and
work for the same company for 36 years. During that time I have seen others who have not been as fortunate. They were not able to walk, run, or participate in the things we take so lightly. Certainly I have no reason to complain. Then there is my wife. We recently celebrated our 36th year together as
man and wife. Of course, I would like to be able to celebrate our 50th and
even our 60th anniversaries. But again I am forced to ask, "Why me, Lord?' Why have I been so blessed? Why have I been fortunate enough tohave a wife stand by me in bad times as well as good times, in health and in
sickness? Why have I been so blessed to have a wife who believes in me,who believes in God and His Word, one who took my hand when I was diagnosed with ALS and said, "We will fight this together"?
Then there is our daughter. I believe every God-fearing father and mother have a desire to live long enough to see their children grow up and begin their own homes. Again I ask, "Why me, Lord?'Why did You bless
me with a daughter that brought so much sunshine and joy to my life as she was growing up, one that I can still picture in my mind climbing up in a chair to reach some material in my office on "Why It Is Wrong To Dance," and then have the conviction to present that material to her classmates? Now my blessings continue to flow as I see her in her own home with a fine Christian husband who is proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
"Why me, Lord?Why have I been blessed with two wonderful grandchildren who think their "Papa" hung the moon? The pure love I see in them makes me think of the joy that will be in heaven. Now that my legs will no longer carry me about, my grandchildren have adjusted to my being in a wheelchair. Again, I thank God for the blessing of technology which allows me to have an electric wheelchair, one that will carry me outside and allow me to continue playing with my grandchildren and attend worship.
Why have I been blessed to have hundreds of Christians encouraging and praying for me and my wife as we battle this disease? I could go on and on, but hopefully enough has been said that the next time you are faced with an adverse situation and are tempted to ask the question, "Why me, Lord?" you can stop, meditate on your overall life, and see that the real question is, "Why me, Lord? Why have You blessed me so?'
Since writing this article, Billy Joe Gooden lost his battle with disease, but he has won the victory, He was a member of the Ward Street congregation in Hardy, Arkansas, "
