Every once in a while, I have focused on the questions God asks in the Bible. Here’s a new one for us to consider:

¹⁷ God heard the boy crying, and God’s angel called to Hagar from heaven. He said, “What is wrong, Hagar? Don’t be afraid! God has heard the boy crying there. ¹⁸ Help him up and take him by the hand. I will make his descendants into a great nation.” (Genesis 21:17-18 NCV).

Commentator Gill writes, 

The question is asked by God’s angel, some believe representing Jesus. Regardless, it is from God and it sounds like, “What were you expecting? Why, were you thinking something different would happen? I’m surprised you are surprised by problems. If there is a problem, why are you acting as if I don’t already know about it?” 

God could say, “Such is life. You don’t need to be surprised.” To Hagar He said, “I’m already aware of the problem; I’ve heard the boy’s cries. Don’t be afraid; I’m already on the problem. The solution is right before you, you just need to have eyes of faith and trust in Me.”

Why are we surprised by life? Why do we become upset when bad things happen? Do we really believe life is promised to be problem-free and without challenges and struggles? I wonder to what degree such an attitude hinders our ability to trust in God and see His awareness of our problem and the solution He has already provided or planned?

Yes, we can say “Such is life” with the wrong attitude also. It could become a lazy attitude that is not trusting God either because we refuse to cooperate with how God wants to work in our lives through a challenge. The lazy attitude dwells in the land of denial and says there is no problem at all.

I’m not sure which attitudes I’m dwelling in right now. I’m writing from my daughter’s home in Washington state, just arriving on Tuesday for a week’s visit. Larry texted me last evening saying he was in the emergency room with mild chest pains. Eventually, they determined he wasn’t having a heart attack but he has spent the night so that they can run more tests this morning to see if there are any heart issues. 

I slept well last night. Such is life. I could be in denial, shock, or trusting God. I’m sure they are all mixed in. Such is life. Why God allowed this to happen when I’m gone, I don’t know. Such is life. 

But God sees the problem and is not surprised. I hear Him tell me, “What is wrong, Kathy? Don’t be afraid. I know what I’m doing and I know my plan for Larry and you. Trust Me. There’s the well for your thirst. Life is uncertain but My provision is always available.”

Thank you, Lord.