Life has a way of bringing us to a place of seemingly utter defeat. It is in these times that we begin to question: Where is God? Why is he letting this happen to me? What have I done to deserve this? I think as Christians, a lot of times instead of dealing with these hard questions and looking for answers, we sweep the questions under the rug. A good Christian doesn’t ask these types of questions, right? Is not asking questions a sign of lacking faith?
The questions don’t go away
However hard we try to hide or ignore these questions, whenever bad times come up, the questions arise once again leaving us more confused and hurt. I believe one reason we lose our faith is because we are too afraid or ashamed to ask hard questions. We are afraid of asking because of the answers and the work it takes to find those answers. We are ashamed for having the questions in the first place.
Heroes of faith asked questions too
We do not need to be afraid or ashamed to ask hard questions. Throughout the Bible, we see that many heroes of faith had questions. In the first couple of chapters of the book of Habakkuk, Habakkuk basically asks God why there is so much evil. Job questioned God over the suffering he was facing. David asked God questions in some of his Psalms. Each individual that asked questions walked away with a deeper faith.
Asking questions is not a sign of lacking faith but a way for us to pursue a deeper faith. (Click to Tweet)
Questions can be a huge tool in helping build our faith
Asking questions gets us seeking for answers. Seeking for answers can and should lead us to the study of God’s word.
Where?
The problem is not asking hard questions, the problem is where we turn to find answers to those questions? The Bible encourages us to test what we learn. 1 John 4:1 encourages,
“Beloved believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (KJV).
When testing what we learn, we need to turn to the source of all truth the Bible (John 17:17).
It is lies that will fail in pursuit of truth. God’s words will stand.
Why?
God wants us to understand that he is greater. He is greater than our questions, our circumstances, and even death. When Job went through some hard circumstances, He asked the question why? God answered Job by showing Him who He was and that He is greater than the present circumstance. When we search the scriptures, we come to the same understanding of who God is and that he is in control. Isaiah 55:8 states:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord” (ESV).
Romans 8:28 also gives this assurance:
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose” (ESV).
Is it worth it?
I think one of the biggest questions we ask with our faith is, “Is it worth it?” When John the Baptist was approaching the end of his life, he wanted to know if everything he sacrificed and all the pain, he endured was worth it. John had spent his whole life proclaiming that the Christ was coming. Before John is close to death, he showed great faith in who Jesus is. When John baptized Jesus, he states that he (John) is not worthy to untie the strap on Jesus’s sandals. After John’s disciples complain about Jesus stealing their popularity, John makes the famous statement, “He must increase but I must decrease.”
Now in the face of death, John has a question. He wants to know if Jesus is the real deal. Instead of rebuking John for asking this question or for lacking in faith, Jesus willingly answers the question in a big way. In Luke 7:21, after John’s disciples ask Jesus John’s question, Jesus heals many people. He then tells John’s disciples,
“Go and tell John what you have seen and heard the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” (John 7:22-23).
Jesus gave John assurance that his life lived out for Christ was worth it! We are given that same assurance. Yes, we may face hard times. We may be ridiculed or persecuted for not following societies’ script, but we have something better waiting for us.
In Romans 8:18, Paul writes to Christians,
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
What about you?
Are you at a time in your life where you’ve got questions? We want to encourage you not to be afraid to ask those questions but to allow those questions to motivate you to pursue truth. Check out God’s promise in Jeremiah 29:12-13,
“Then you will call upon me and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (ESV).
God promises us that when we seek Him – when we ask those hard questions- we will find God. So, do you got questions?
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