Why Not Me?

By Shannon Nelson

Oftentimes, things happen in life that we didn’t see coming and didn’t prepare for.
And it doesn’t always have to be something traumatic. It could be something small — not finishing school, not getting the job, or wondering why work is so hectic sometimes.

Or it could be something really big — the loss of a friend, a diagnosis, or something not working out the way we intended.

When those moments come, we may find ourselves asking: “Why me?”

My Own “Why Me” Moment

I remember getting a diagnosis and feeling so frustrated. I was tired of going to the doctor, and I had never heard of anyone in my family with the same condition. I felt thrown off, like, “Why is this happening to me?”

Then recently, my sister shared that she was diagnosed with the same thing. My spirit grieved for her, because I didn’t want this for her. Yet, for a hot second, I felt a strange sense of validation — like, “So I wasn’t the only one. Maybe it’s not just me. Maybe nothing is wrong with me.” That may sound crazy, because of course, I didn’t want her to be sick. But when you’re confronted with certain things, you reflect: Am I the only one? Am I the only one willing to be transparent?

As soon as that thought passed, I was back in grief for my sister — because I know this road, and I didn’t want her to have to walk it.

Wisdom From My Grandmother

That led me back to my grandmother’s words. She once told me that when she had her first two children (out of six), both were diagnosed with a disability. She asked God, “Why me?”

And the Holy Spirit replied:
“Why not you?”

Those words reminded her that she had been equipped for the journey.

God’s Promise in Hardship

And then, of course, Jeremiah 29:11 came to my heart:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

When you read the entire passage, you see that God is speaking to a people who are about to endure bondage. And in that season of hardship, they were given instructions on how to live — to build, to plant, to marry, to seek peace — while trusting that God’s plan was still unfolding.

How Am I Showing Up?

That makes me reflect: How am I showing up in this season?

Am I complaining about my hardship?

Or am I trusting God, remembering that by Jesus Christ I am healthy, healed, and whole?

Am I still being appreciative of how well it is — even in the middle of what is not?

Because here’s the truth: we will face trials and tests. But how we respond matters. It may even impact how fast we get to the other side of better.

The Other Side of Better

The other side of better doesn’t always mean complete healing or full restoration. Sometimes it means finding joy in the middle of it. It means choosing gratitude, peace, and hope — even while we wait.

So instead of asking “Why me?” we can shift our hearts to say:

Thank You, Lord, that I am not alone.
Thank You that You still have a plan.
Thank You that Your Word does not lie and You will never leave or forsake me.

That is the other side of better — not just surviving the trial, but living with joy, peace, and purpose in spite of it.

Closing Prayer

Lord, help me to shift from asking “Why me?” to trusting “Why not me?” Remind me that You have equipped me for every season, and that Your plans for me are good. Let my trials shape me, not break me, and keep me mindful that joy is still possible — even here. Amen.

Call to Action

What “why me” moment are you facing right now?

Pause, breathe, and ask yourself:
How might God be equipping me through this?