Why Me?

Usually we associate “Why me?”with self-pity.

• The car breaks down: “Why me?”
• A pipe breaks and floods your bathroom: “Why me?”
• You come down with a wicked head cold right before you have to give a big presentation at work: “Why me? Why now?”

The answer to those questions is always the same: “Why not you?” The incarnate Son of God was lied about, subjected to a sham trial, mocked, whipped, nailed to a tree and tortured to death, and you want your life to be easy? Get over yourself.

But there’s another time we think “Why me?”

• God puts it into your heart to lead an initiative to feed the homeless in your city: “I don’t know…I mean, I’ve never done anything like that before…All these other people are so much more qualified.”
• Your friend is sick, and it crosses your mind how great it would be to pray boldly for her healing: “I can’t do that. Besides, what if it doesn’t work?”
• The best company you know is hiring for your dream job, and you hesitate to put in an application: “I’m sure there’s, like, a thousand people applying for the job, and why would they pick me anyway?”

Do you hear the “Why me?” behind all those responses?

The answer to both versions of “Why me?” is the same: Why not you? The incarnate Son of God did not let Himself be tortured to death so that your life would be easy. He did it so that your life would be great. When God built you in your mother’s womb, He built greatness into you. You were born to do great things.

The Son of God did not allow Himself to be tortured to death because He had nothing better to do that particular Friday. He had a purpose in mind. He took all your sin and weakness to the cross so it could die there. He rose from the grave so that you would know that no matter how bad the problem seems right now, there is resurrection on the other side of it. He is ready, right now, to walk with you into the life you were born to live.

“Why me?” wants a life of petty comforts and hollow victories over sham obstacles. “Why me?” wants a life of mediocrity and smallness.

But you were born for greatness.