Why, God?

Have you ever questioned God? I tend to think that most of you, as I, have questioned God at some point in your life. In speaking with a friend recently she mentioned that she had served God for many years, within a relatively short time-span had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, several mini strokes, cancer, endured chemo-therapy, and was now in great pain from chemo-induced myopathy in her feet. She, like most of us, wondered why God would allow so many afflictions to come her way. Is it wrong to question God, she wondered.  

The Bible tells us about the young son of the women of the house was taken ill and died. (I Kings 17:17) She railed at Elijah, “What have I to do with you, Oh man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to kill my son?” Elijah took the boy upstairs and lay him down and spoke these words to God, “Have you brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge by killing her son?” Then Elijah prayed for the boy and he was restored to life. Yet, God heard and answered Elijah’s prayers for restoration to life for the boy. As a result, the woman’s faith in God was totally restored. Such is the love and mercy of God. Then the widow said to Elijah, “Now by this I know that you are a man of God and that the words of the Lord in your mouth is truth.

In the above story, neither Elijah nor the widow were rebuked by God for their questions.

There are many instances in Scripture where God was questioned. Job, who faithfully served God, questioned him, (Job 21:7).

The book of Habakkuk is full of questions to God from his prophet, as are the Psalms.

Gideon bombarded God with questions concerning his calling.

Even Jesus called out to His Father on the cross, “Why have you forsaken me?”

Most Bible scholars don’t condemn or question a true believer’s right to question God, but they do caution us about the way we approach God.

Rev. Billy Graham states that “It’s not necessarily wrong to ask God why He’s allowed things to happen to us the way they did. God doesn’t want us to pretend or be ashamed when we come to Him –and in any case, He already knows what is in our minds and hearts. Don’t question God because you think He may be wrong; He isn’t. Instead, ask Him to help you to trust Him, even when you don’t understand. God loves you –if he didn’t He wouldn’t have sent His Son into the world to die for you. But He did and that makes all the difference.”

When you approach God humbly and fully acknowledge His sovereignty, don’t fear that your questions will offend Him. One writer even stated that coming to the Lord with our questions and concerns is healthy. But we do so realizing that His wisdom is perfect and that He knows all things. He may not always provide the answers to our questions; that’s where our faith comes in. We may never fully know or understand His ways, but we can always trust His character. Sisters, He is your loving, heavenly Father who walks every step of life with you and, ultimately, that is all you need to know.

May you experience the peace and joy of our loving God regardless of what you are experiencing today. 

Message by Shari Hervold

Chris Tomlin - "Whom Shall I Fear"

"Chris Tomlin - "Good, Good Father