We Were Not Made to Understand

Written January 24, 2013

“For just $1 a day you can help feed this hungry child.” The television flashes with pictures of starving children around the world, desperate for hope and love. I close my eyes and press mute in hopes of making the reality fade. After all, it is just an infomercial, this cannot be real? As I was growing up I used to pretend poverty and injustice didn’t happen- because I did not want to be faced with heartache. I knew  the truth, but didn’t want to address that truth.

Walking through the villages in Dondo, Mozambique has given me a wake-up call, a harsh reality. The things on the television are true; yesterday I looked  at a face that could have been on “Feed the Children.” Heartbroken, I ran out of the room with tears streaming down my face. This innocent child was dying from Aids in a place deemed “hospital," with his momma by his side, holding him up as he threw up. 
It is so easy to ask the question why?? I found myself asking that question multiple times as we walked through the dilapidated building where children sit in their own urine without care. I asked why these children have to suffer? Why don’t they have adequate health care? Why  don’t they at least have medicine to make the pain less? Why? WHY? WHY?! In that moment the temper of a red-head wanted to go to the government demanding a better hospital for these people, better healthcare. After taking some sips of water and praying, God spoke to my heart. I am one person, I can make a difference in this world; but I cannot fix all  the world’s problems (it is virtually impossible) I am not supposed to have all the answers to my “why” questions.

There is injustice in the world because of the fallen nature of man. There is poverty in the world because of the fallen nature of man. There are inhumane acts in the world because of the fallen nature of man.  Everything that is evil and corrupt is not from God, but from the sin that entered the world because of the fall. Now, does that mean we should ignore the injustice and poverty? NO WAY! We must choose to take a stand and fight for what is right until the day we reach eternity.  We are not going to know the answers to our “why” questions- they are too big for us to comprehend on our own. We can give our questions to God and let Him use us to bring light to this dark and hopeless world. He didn’t call me to Africa to fix all the problems I see, He called me here to make a difference through love and hope.

This is just the beginning- I am going to face harsh reality all over the world- but God is big enough to take that reality and teach me. I have a voice that needs to be used- to bring light and hope to the darkness. Complete understanding is out of our grasp, but we are called to be light to the world- not to have every question answered.