When my daughter, Dana (pictured), tore her ACL a year ago during cheerleading practice, our first reaction was "Why, Lord?" She had just received the "Most Valuable Cheerleader" award and been promoted to the Varsity team. She had worked hard. She had given 100 percent. And she was badly hurt because of it. The Alterior Crucial Ligament that held her right knee in place was completely severed and surgery (and a minimum 9-month recovery) was required before she could return to the team.

   One surgery and 7 months later, we found ourselves asking  "Are You kidding, Lord?" when she tore the same ligament AGAIN.

   But what we called an accident, (or rather, two of them!) God may have called "sovereignty."  During those 7 months when Dana could no longer jump, perform  back handsprings, or even dance at the level that she wanted to, she ended up picking up a guitar. Long hours in her room, with nothing else to do, resulted in her learning to play and sing and worship the One who allowed the injury to happen. Today, when she would've been in the full swing of cheerleading practice for her senior year of high school, she is now leading -- not the cheer squad -- but her church's youth group in worship every  week. And instead of the "Most Valuable Cheerleader" award at school this past spring, she received the "Top Student Award" in Guitar  and was elected Chaplain at her school to lead the chapel worship services this next school year.

  God didn't answer our "why" questions immediately. But, instead, He let us watch a blessed transformation from cheerleader to worship leader. He let us witness a process in which a  teenager developed a talent that could be used to serve and magnify her Lord. 

   

   How often we go to the Creator and Sustainer of Life and ask "why?"  "Why now, God? Couldn't You have waited a little longer?"  "Why her, Lord, couldn't You have let it happen to someone else?" "Why this God? Couldn't you have gotten my attention in some other way?"
                And His answer reminds us of Who is in control: 
                                "For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
                                Neither are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.
                                "For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
                                So are My ways higher than your ways,
                                And My thoughts than your thoughts."
                                                                                                (Isaiah 55:8-9, NASB)
                
     That is God's gentle way of telling us that He has a bigger picture that is above and beyond anything that we can see...a story in a spiritual realm that we can't yet comprehend. He has a reason far above our own because He is God and we are not. And we are asked to simply trust:

•  That He is a God who "causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."  (Romans 8:28)
• That "there is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven..." (Ecclesiastes 3:1) and that means He didn't get the timing wrong in the slightest.
• That "His works are perfect...." (Deuteronomy 32:4) and He is a God who never makes mistakes, regardless of what we might think. 
• That He is a God who neither slumbers, nor sleeps (Psalm 121:3-4), meaning nothing takes Him by surprise.  

    Will you trust God with your world turning upside down if that is the case? Will you trust Him with what seems like horrible timing? Will you trust that He is in control and - according to His goodness and loving kindness - He wouldn't have things any other way right now? 
    He knows what He's doing in all that He's allowing in your life right now. And He will complete the work He has begun in you until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6) 
    Adapted from Cindi's newest book When Women Walk Alone: A 31-Day Devotional Companion.