Psalm 107 gave a complete cycle of Who, How and Why the Lord disciplines.
In verse 11 it reveals the condition before the lord acts. People were rebellious and contemned the Lord’s counsel. People were not paying attention to God and His words. Not because he did not speak but because they do not care.
2 occasions in the same chapter, the Lord revealed about Himself, how He will carry out His judgement and why he does that.
Because they rebelled against the words of God, And contemned the counsel of the Most High: Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; They fell down, and there was none to help. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, And he saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And brake their bands in sunder. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!
These see the works of the LORD, And his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, Which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: Their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits' end. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, And he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, So that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; So he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men! Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, And praise him in the assembly of the elders.”
Psalm 107:11-15, 24-32
In both cases, we can see that the Lord is not passive but will bring people down to a point where they can do nothing but to look up and cry unto Him. Self sufficiency and success seldom drive us towards spiritual reliance. When we are at wits end will we look upwards instead of looking inward. Only an upward glance in humility will the inward change takes place. In both cases, God addressed the Who control the situations of our lives. God Himself.
We then see How the Lord carry out His plans. Nothing of it speaks of the comfort many of us seek. Instead, He brings us down to a point where we lose all hope in ourself and our abilities. Totally helpless and clueless what will happen next. This is a point we feel totally vulnerable , bare and authentic. The only thing fit for such situation is to cry. Helplessly cry.
God then makes His final move. He delivers and he calms the storm. We cannot appreciate wealth without experiencing poor. We cannot appreciate food unless we experience hunger. We cannot appreciate acceptance without experiencing rejections. We cannot appreciate life more than those who had a near death experience. Emotion attached to experience is a strong force to establish belief and conviction. Many of those our Lord Jesus healed could not contain themselves but to praise and worship. The Why is now established. That we may in the congregation of people praise and exalt Him.
May the Lord bring us to the point of undivided attention to pray and cry to Him. May the Lord hears your helpless cry. May the Lord gain your unreserved praise for His faithfulness of deliverance and salvation. May you discover the Who, How and Why things are happening in your life.