It’s easy falling into the trap of the why me syndrome. This is often unintentional. When trials emerge, my first instinct is to question God’s reason for my misfortune. I doubt and forget to trust Him. Because of my lack of faith, I continue to wallow in self-pity.

Why Me?

The moment I scream out why me, my focus shifts from a reliance on God to one centered on myself. I act as though I’m the only follower going through tribulations, and He is placing too much burden on my life.

When Jesus took on death, He didn’t cry out why me. He accepted God’s will and trusted Him while facing extreme distress. Christ’s demonstration of perfect faith gives us insight into God’s undeniable desire to call humanity to repentance (John 3:16-17).

None of us welcome tribulations. No, I want each day to be void of problems and filled with God’s holy bliss. But the crux of a Christian’s life is that trials result from a broken world (John 16:33) and provide opportunities to exert my faith in Christ.

The why me syndrome isn’t a sin. There is a difference between doubt and disbelief. For example, the prophet Habakkuk’s lack of confidence in God’s ability to abolish violence in his generation shows doubt (Habakkuk 1-4). But the Pharisee’s absolute rejection of Jesus’s spiritual authority is disbelief (Matthew 12:24).

When God brought me into His kingdom, it didn’t eradicate my battle with spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:12). Instead, He placed me in Jesus, who defeated Satan’s domain and provided me with the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:13-17). He gave me a supernatural strength where the devil flees (James 4:7). Therefore, the why me syndrome isn’t worthwhile.

Some Christians face more troubling circumstances than others. They experience a bombardment of tribulations close together. Some questioned God’s reasoning behind these hardships. Others embraced His comfort during those sorrowful times.

A point often overlooked is that suffering from problems is part of a Christian’s life. Each of the Apostles experienced afflictions for their faith in Christ. They died at the hands of persecutors who hated Christ’s Gospel. John wasn’t executed but imprisoned on an island. None of them cried out, why me? No, they faced death with Christian dignity, knowing they would reunite with Jesus.

Trusting God

The antidote to the “why me syndrome” is trusting God. This means reliance on Christ. Remember, God made Jesus the only way into His kingdom (John 14:6). By abiding in Christ, the courage to overcome personal adversity transpires. This powerful inner strength proves the undeniable presence of the Holy Spirit.

Solomon, one of God’s trusted servants, unveils the wisdom of trusting God.

He said:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

(Proverbs 3:5-6, NKJV)

Solomon unfolds God’s incredible willingness to guide us under every circumstance. However, to unlock God’s omnipotence, I must, without reservation, trust Him by seeking His divine guidance. I have to abandon my knowledge and show complete allegiance to His wisdom. And in times of trouble, this action of trust will lead to peace.

God never walks away from our lives. He is always there in my time of doubt (Hebrew 13:8). When the why me syndrome engulfs my faith and everything seems intolerable, the way out of this dilemma is to be still and know God (Psalm 46:10). This action of meditation on His word gives me refuge in His grace.

Trust in God starts with accepting Christ and believing He raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:8-10). This comes from His gift of salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). Once our Father brings us into His kingdom, I must pick up my cross and follow Jesus (Luke 9:23). Because of this action, God steps in and comforts my mind, heart, and soul.

David shows an excellent illustration of trusting in God’s compassionate heart.

He said:

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. (Psalm 28:7, ESV)

David uncovers that a trusting heart brings God’s strength, protection, and resolutions. As a result of my faithfulness, the Holy Spirit fills my soul with joy, and my gratitude to God increases.

Conclusion

The why me syndrome doesn’t have to linger in troublesome times. With God, nothing is impossible to overcome (Luke 1:37). When we trust Him, He gives us the strength of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. In the blessed Trinity, we discover the fullness of His glorious consciousness.

How do you trust in God?