My favorite question used to be “Why?” And as a track and field athlete, I would thread it into virtually every situation I found myself facing when it came to my sport.

There were so many times when things didn’t go my way and I would throw out infinite “why” questions to God simply because the outcome didn’t match my limited perspective.

Why me? Why did that have to happen? Why does it feel like I’m the only one who can’t get it together? Why can’t I perform well when I am trying so hard?

What I realized was that the drive behind those thoughts was the desire to look good to other people and to feel good for myself. There is nothing inherently wrong with those motives, but in this instance, they felt vacant and selfish.

So I decided to look to the Lord and believe He had me in those struggles for a reason bigger than a victorious outcome on the track. I started turning my “why” questions into “what” and “how” questions.

I’d talk to God, saying, “I trust You but what am I supposed to do? What role do You have for me to play? How can I turn this around to glorify You?”

If you can relate to situations like this, I challenge you to take a step back and try to look at things from His perspective.

He will reveal things to you: people who are wrestling through similar issues whom you can reach out to, connect with, and help; platforms on which to shine the light of Christ even when your circumstances are stacked against you; relationships in your life that may have never come to fruition if events had gone according to your plan.

God knows what you want, but He gives you what you need.

Are you ready to ask God: “What do You have me here for, Lord? How can I help?”