Summary: Why am I the way I am? Why did this happen? Why did they do this to me? Why did God do this to me? Why? Why? Why?

Why R U?

Jeremiah 1:5 (NLT)

(Preached By Matthew Goldberg)

This is the infamous question that riddles the minds of many, many people…

Why am I the way I am? Why did this happen? Why did they do this to me? Why did God do this to me? Why? Why? Why?

What is the question that people always say they are gonna ask God when they get to heaven?

This question seems to be a major faith stopper for many people…they feel to believe, God must answer their question…

I want to look at a passage and pull out 3 things that I believe can answer the why are you…

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 (NLT)

1) He Created You

Why are you? Because God said so…

Have you ever asked yourself the question, why am I the way I am?

I had low self-esteem, lacked acceptance, short, voice sounded funny.

Why am I this way?

“…I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.” Isaiah 47:3 (NLT)

Why am I so special?

“…we are God’s masterpiece.” Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

Don’t be an imitation of someone else…be the original that God made you to be!

Why do I look the way I do?

“…because you created what you pleased.”

Rev. 4:11 (NLT)

There was a boy sitting on his father's lap as they were looking into a mirror. The boy said to his dad, "Dad, who made me?" He said, "God made you, son." He said, "Dad, who made you?" He said, "God made me, son." He said, "Dad, who made granddad?" He said, "God made him, son." He said, "Dad, who made great- granddad?" He said, "God made him, son. Why do you ask?" The boy took one look back in the mirror and said, "Well, it just seems to me He's been doing a better job in recent years!"

Maybe you are like this little boy, asking God questions about you.

2) He Chose You

Setting something apart means you picked it out of the bunch.

Like watching my wife at Ross…picking out clothes…

Being young and being picked for a team…

God picked you specifically!

“You didn’t choose me, I chose you…” John 15:16 (NLT)

“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.” Romans 5:6 (NLT)

I was picked because He gave His life for me!

Why are you? Because He chose you!

Illustration – “Being picked to be a Natural Helper in High School”

I was picked out of all my classmates…

I wasn’t popular, wasn’t on a sports team, wasn’t in the band, but I was picked!

You may not have everything together in your life right now…But He Picked You!

3) He Called You

“…appointed you to be my prophet to the nations.”

Before you were even born God personally designed a purpose for you that will fit you like a glove!

Your personality, your gifts, your talents, etc. are the like the fingers on the hand and they are designed big or small, to fit in a certain size glove.

“…now the LORD speaks— the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant, who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him.” Isaiah 49:5 (NLT)

“Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” Mark 16:15 (NLT)

God has designed everyone of us to do our part in the harvest!

God gave you the gifts and talents you have to equip you to accomplish His purpose!

Don’t be an imitation of someone else! Your purpose is only accomplished as YOU!

The purpose is tied to the person and that person is You…

What has God called you to do?

What are you doing now?

Conclusion:

(Stand)

Why are you? Because He loved you before anything else was made…

Why are you? Because He thought about you before the world was even here…

Why are you? Because He formed you with His own hand…

Why are you? Because He picked you specially for Him…

Why are you? Because He gave his all in your place…

(Heads bowed and Eyes Closed)

Maybe you’re here this morning, and you know you are far, far, far away from God, and today God is saying, I made you for me…even when you were at your worst I died for you.

Even though things may be falling apart…I am here to put it together again…Today God is asking you… “Why not?”

Why not make today the day that you make things right with Him?

Why not allow God to turn the things around in your life that are aimed for harm and make them for your good?

Why not commit to the purpose He placed on your life when He died in your place?

If you are here this morning and you know you need to make things right with God, I wanna ask you to come.

If you are here and you are saying in your heart I don’t know what my purpose is…but I would like someone to pray with me that I would discover it and pursue it with passion.

Maybe you are here and you know what you need to be doing, but you need God to reignite a passion in your heart to pursue it.