My first year living in Nashville was one of the hardest seasons of my life. It was like being caught in a storm that just wouldn’t let up. The winds of physical illness and financial strain sought to pull me under, while loneliness poured down like cold, unrelenting rain, soaking every corner of my life.
I found myself staring up at the storm-darkened sky, asking the question so many skeptics and believers alike have asked. If God is loving and good, why does He allow evil? Why does God allow His children to walk through so much hardship?
I didn’t realize that my craving to obtain full knowledge of “good and evil” was the same temptation that first slithered into the lush Garden of Eden. It was this same temptation that curled around Eve’s heart, coaxing her fingers toward the forbidden fruit — the desire to grasp full knowledge of good and evil and, in doing so, to reach beyond her humanity and be like God.
“‘You will not certainly die,’ the serpent said to the woman. ‘For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.”
Genesis 3:4-7 NIV
But control was never meant to be humanity’s comfort; and knowledge was never meant to be its anchor.
Yet, still, I reached for control and knowledge as if they could steady me, as if knowing why would somehow bring calm and shift the course of the storms in my life. Somewhere along the way, I swallowed the lie whole, believing that if I could just understand, if I could make sense of it all, the burden might feel lighter.
But God never asked us to bear the weight of understanding. He only asked us to trust in the One who does. True peace isn’t in searching for answers to problems I have no power to solve. It’s found in surrender — resting in the hands of the One who holds every variable, even when I can’t solve the why.
Sometimes, God’s greatest blessing is not revealing why. And that’s a strange kind of grace, isn’t it? Because you and I are not all-powerful, and having knowledge without the ability to change things would only leave us feeling even more helpless.
The real gift isn’t in knowing why, but in knowing Who.
Still, I’m learning — it is okay. It’s okay to bring the raw, tangled questions and unsanitized ache before God’s throne of grace, where mercy isn’t measured by logic. It’s okay to wrestle in prayer with fists clenched tight and tear-streaked cheeks, pouring out doubts to the God who spoke galaxies into existence and called light from the void.
So, like the Psalmist, I remind my own soul that God does not subtract His presence nor does He ration His affections when the disappointments pile high. He does not flinch when my faith feels fragile, and He never turns His face when my prayers sound more like pleading than praise. He multiplies His grace. He draws near, still.
Can you, on some level, relate to this? Do you find yourself grasping to understand the full complexities of good and evil — trying to hold what was never meant for human hands? And, have you noticed? In doing so, we only step further away from the peace that comes from trusting He who is infinite in wisdom and power.
So, here’s a holy resolve. Even if God never reveals the why, we can choose to remember that our relationship with God isn’t hinged on perfect knowledge but fully on faith and trust in His sovereign character.
Instead of reaching for control, I want to reach for the hand that has always been reaching for me, even through life’s storms . . . and even when I don’t understand the why’s.
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POWERFUL!
Thank you, Jackie!
Powerful, beautiful words of wisdom, Oghosa. It’s our joy to welcome you to (in)courage again!
Thank you, Rachel, for the encouragement! I’m truly honored that you all chose to publish this post.
Your words provided me a needed peace! If the “why” is never revealed to me….I know God is my strength!
Amen, Sharon! Thank you for sharing.
Wow!
Thank you, Laurie!
hello! i was just talking to God about this very thing and my struggle to let go of control of needing to know & understand all the whys and hows and whens. and then there it is in this extremely well-timed devo. it’s always good know you’re not alone 🙂
also – i so love your writing style! just wanted to mention. 🙂
Thank you, Arian! That is so encouraging. I was actually praying over some of the very things you mentioned as I thought about the readers of this post. So glad to hear it encouraged you!
Dear Oghosa,
I hope you are finding some relief from the storms you mention in your article. I wish I could reach out to you in person and be your friend. But there are someones nearby who will reach out to you. And I will reach for someone here in my northwest corner of Oregon. I will watch out for your “twin” close by.
Meanwhile, trust in the One, who is always near!
Amen, Irene!
I needed this reminder this morning. Thank you for your beautiful words – they were timely.
Praise be to God! Thank you for sharing.
Dear Oghosa…………….Your words today really have made me something that I never could understand. The “Why “. I have had so many serious problems throughout my life that I would always pray and ask God, why is all of this happening to me, Lord? Have I done something wrong? Now I know that due to your devotional today that The real gift isn’t in knowing why, but in knowing who. What a very powerful statement. Now I know I haven’t been praying right, as you have shared with us, “True peace isn’t in searching for answers to problems, I have no power to solve. It’s found in surrender to the One who holds us. I guess my 45 years in the work world are still affecting me as my job was to “go to the problems and solve them” which I did, but what I was doing does not relate to the “Why” in my prayer to Jesus. Thank you so much for your devotional, Oghosa, let me send my prayers and love to you for wide opening my eyes as I read every word. The (incourage) community of women have enlightened me in so many ways ever since I found their community. Your words, I know will help me to pray the way I should and Praise Be to God for you today Oghosa…………………………Betsy Basile
Dear Betsy,
I’m so grateful you took the time to share how the devotional spoke to you. What you wrote is encouraging, and I’m humbled to know God used those words to meet you in such a meaningful way.
With love and grace,
Oghosa
Thank you for this message.
Absolutely! 🙂
“ control was never meant to be humanity’s comfort; and knowledge was never meant to be its anchor”
This- all of this – is SO good!
Thank you for this powerful truth today.
Thank you for the encouragement, Melanie!
Thank you so much for sharing your struggles while also sharing the beauty and power of God’s truth! This read was perfectly timed in my need as I’m still living through the tumultuous first year of a cross country move from Texas to Oregon. I have innumerable “whys” I’d love answered but the way you approach this idea is giving me truth to reorient with.
Thank you again!!
Jamie,
thank you so much for sharing your heart and your honesty in the midst of such a challenging season. I’m grateful that the words met you at just the right time. I can only imagine all the emotions that come with such a big move and the many “whys” that surface along the way.
Please know I’m praying for you right now, that God would anchor you with peace, surround you with His presence, and gently remind you that He’s holding every part of your journey.
Grateful for you!
Oghosa
Thank you for putting into words what faith does. For some reason this spoke to me strongly enough that I copied it for a family who is going through so much grief right now. I pray that it explains some questions they are asking in their uncertainty and pain.
Thank you so much for sharing that. I am so grateful it resonated with you, and I praise God that it could speak to your family’s grief in some way. I’m praying even now that His presence brings comfort and clarity in the midst of their pain.
Oghosa
Charlene,
Thank you so much for sharing that. I am grateful it resonated with you and praise God that it could speak to your family’s grief in some way. I’m praying even now that His presence brings comfort and clarity in the midst of their pain.
Oghosa
Charlene,
Thank you for your encouragement. I’m thankful to hear how you shared it with your family member, I pray the Lord uses it in their grief.
Amen and Amen.
Sometimes all we can do is TRUST.
We have a good Father, that I know.
Sending you Easter JOY,
Lisa Wilt
Amen, Lisa!
Oh my goodness. What a gift to read these words today. Thank you.
So grateful to hear, Krista!
Love this writing and the comfort it brings …
This statement is so true “… you and I are not all-powerful, and having knowledge without the ability to change things would only leave us feeling even more helpless.”
In feeling helpless I also experienced peacelessness because I had not the power (nor the wisdom needed) to change the circumstances that I questioned.
Thanks for the reminder that the weight of the world and the knowledge of good and evil was never a weight Abba intended for his children to carry or manage alone!
Amen, Dawn!
Thank you for that. So glad it encouraged you!
So good! Not in the how but it’s about the Who! Why is it so tempting to want to know every detail?! lol thank you for encouraging us with your testimony and the Word
Amen, Jenna
It is so tempting…every detail.
Thank you for your constant support and encouragement through the years.
Oghosa,
Women want to know all the detail so we can fix the problems. God is more interested in us trusting Him. He knows that trials bring us closer to Him and that is His ultimate goal.
Blessings 🙂
Amen, Beth!
This was exactly what I needed to read today. My divorce was final last month after 42 years of marriage, seven children and 17 grandchildren. So many unanswered questions, so much heartbreak. Thank you for the encouragement to trust and rest in the One who holds it all in His hands, loves us with an everlasting love and will never leave or forsake us!
Wow, Sue.
I’m so sorry to hear what you’ve been walking through. I can’t imagine the depth of that heartbreak. Thank you for sharing so honestly. I’m grateful that these words met you today, and even more grateful for the truth you’re holding onto: that God’s love is everlasting and His hands are strong enough to carry it all. I’m praying His comfort surrounds you in each step of your healing journey!
Oghosa
Thank you so much! God’s richest blessings upon your life!
Thank you for your beautiful words