“Are we almost there daddy?”
“Do you love me more than mommy?” “No. I love mommy more.” “But aren’t you supposed to love us the same?”
AND THE BIG ONE:
“WHY?”
Not a parent on this planet has not been bombarded with those questions…and a ton more…as your children grow up. How many times have you said, “If I had a quarter for every question he/she asked, I could retire and live off the interest?” I will be honest and say, “Guilty as charged!”
But you know what?
THAT. IS. OKAY.
You expect your children to ask questions. How else will they learn? They may irritate the daylights out of us, 🙂 but we take all things into consideration and accept it. And expect it.
Why, then, do we have such trouble with people peppering God with questions? Why do we see it as a lack of faith?
“Why did my child get sick and/or die?”
“Why did he have that accident that paralyzed him for life?
“Why is my financial situation worse now than it was when I was not trying to be a good steward?”
“Does God allow evil?”
“If I believe God is in control, does that make Him a Master Puppeteer and me a pawn or slave?”
See what I mean? So many questions and not enough answers. Funny thing is: I believe God is sovereign. I don’t believe in luck, chance, or superstition. But I am also not comfortable in saying that I do not have free will. There are some who believe so strongly in God’s sovereignty that they have taken the freedom of choice right out of man’s hands. Nope, not me. Please don’t see that as heresy. See it as just one more (unanswered) question…one to be found out at the Throne when all things will be made clear.
God has a much greater agenda than me. As I make my plans, I must also allow the Holy Spirit the privilege of changing them at a moment’s notice. Doesn’t mean I have to like it…or readily accept it…or see the purpose behind it all. Truth is: there are two sides to the coin. Good things do happen for our good. We like that one. 😛 But the other side of the coin is that bad things happen for our good also. We aren’t too sure about that side. But this is when Romans 8:28-29 (please don’t forget verse 29) comes into play. Will it be a verse we just spout off or will it become a reality in our life?
So many questions…so many unanswerable. I am sure you have some. Care to share what they are? There will be no judgment given on any of them…but maybe an answer will come.
When my aunt died last year, I asked God: “Why did you take her instead of me?” When I used to hear about the death of a good person who died at a young age, I ask God why He allowed the person to die knowing that the person was kind and good. Now, if anything whether good or bad happens to me or my loved ones, I tell Him: “I know You have a reason for everything You do and I end up with the chorus from Francesca Battistelli’s Keeping me Guessing:
I don’t know how the story ends
But I’ll be alright ’cause You wrote it
I don’t know where the highway bends
But I’m doing just fine
‘Cause You’re in control
Even when I don’t know
Where my life’s gonna go
You’re keeping me guessing”
Jeremiah 29:11 also comes to mind.
You show some excellent maturity here Mercy, especially in your growth of questions and response to pain. Thanks for an excellent comment.
I’m going to try and keep this short 🙂
God has tried to steer me away from the “why” questions. They are not easy to let go of. Something would happen in my life (like my divorce 4 years ago) and I’d ask “why are You allowing this to happen?” or “why is this happening at all?”. I’d start asking questions that will most likely not be answered this side of heaven. A lot of the “why” questions won’t be answered.
I heard a sermon that helped me with this. The speaker said to ask God these questions instead.
1) what does this mean for me?
2) what do You want me to do?
For me, those questions help me stay focused on what God is doing in me through the situation. I know that God is going to lead me to another place in my faith – and He’ll use very good & very bad situations to get me there. Those questions have helped me to see that God isn’t throwing darts at me…He isn’t causing the turmoil in my life…but He allows it.
He is the Potter and I’m the clay. I don’t like being the clay all of the time…but He knows what is best for me.
Great post Bill.
You are right Craig. After reading “Where Is God When It Hurts?” I stopped asking the why question and started asking the two you suggested. It has helped change my outlook. thanks for a great comment and adding to the discussion.
I think I was meant to see this today. My Mom used to always tell me that I wouldm live to be 100 “because God is not going to want to hear your mouth”!!!! I always have said, “when I get to Heaven, I have ALOT OF QUESTIONS for God”!!!!!And I do, but as I grow older I do realize that “God has a plan, and the plan is good”. We may not always SEE the good but it is there. Thanks for the reminder, Bill. Pinky
I had to laugh Pinky because i see you as one of those who probably drove your folks nuts with questions. 🙂 I prayed for you this morning by name. Thanks for coming back to visit.
Hi Bill,
I agree with you that we have free will. In my mind I can choose today to rebel against God and I would be able to do it.
Where I see God in control is in the course of history and of the world. In the end he will judge and no one will be able to stop him. I don’t believe that He controls my life. He works in my life. He does me good. But he doesn’t control me. He wants my purposeful surrender, my willing adoration, my obedience, my love, given to him by someone who has the ability to turn away.
We have wittness and the testimony among us that legalism (which is a type of control) doesn’t work. It’s harmful and destructive to people in their walk with God. This testimony from many people tells us that legalism is not from God.
If we are not experiencing God in our lives on a fairly regular basis then I think that we need to go back to where we did. This may be our salvation experience where we had wittness within us that God had done something. That we were changed somehow. Then we know that our salvation experience was from God. He will give the wittess. You may have found that you wanted to go to church after you were saved. Something that you had no desire to do before your encounter with God, etc.
I’m leaning more to the thinking that God will give wittness and testimony and we also will have testimony to give to others with the scripture assurances that the doctrines that we are following are indeed from God.
If we are not getting this wittness and testimony from the Holy Spirit and if we cannot testify to the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and circumstances (most if not all of God’s intervention will be for good) then I think we need to re-examine our doctrines and beliefs.
This is just some of my thinking these days. I can’t be positive about this but I have a leaning toward this thinking right now.
I agree with you about God not controlling our lives if you mean “not controlling us like a puppet.” It may be a matter of semantics but when I yield control to Him, then I am saying, “You take over. You take control of all of me.” Like I said, Linda, that may be a matter of semantics and we may actually be saying the same thing because I do not believe in a puppet-making God. Thanks for the good comment. You have given some thought to it.
Hi Bill,
“You take over. You take control of all of me.”
I might be seeing this just a tad differently in that God doesn’t take control, we willingly do his bidding so to speak.
Our mind is so joined up with his, our desires are so like his, we listen to him and do what he says. We no longer live for ourselves. We live for him. That’s the kind of control I believe is given over to God.
I think we are saying virtually the same thing but in a different way. Maybe it is the Canadian & American difference? 😛
I love the fact that God is not rattled by my questions, I actually think He invites questions. My problem is that I’m not a big fan of the answers sometimes!
You and me both jay! I wouldn’t mind doing without some of the answers too. 🙂 Thanks.
I love the fact that God is not rattled by my questions – indeed!
Very good indeed!
I used to be bothered by my own questions instead of others, but they don’t bother me like they used to. I understand what I understand and as the Holy Spirit leads, I grow deeper in it and flourish in His Truth. Denying the questions when we have them is like pretending to have faith–not the same as really having it. Good stuff, Bill. Thanks so much.
I like your last statement jason: “denying when…it.” Those were some good words! Thanks for the comment.
I def have some questions. Why won’t God answer my prayer? I’d take a no just to hear Him speak. There is something I’ve been wrestling with and I’d love to hear God.
Been there done that one too Rob. Must admit still do upon occasion. Thanks for the honesty.
When I was younger, I struggled with seeing “bad” things happening (young children suffering, etc)… I think over the last 5-6 years, God has really given me a peace to ask those questions, truly believe He is sovereign and has a plan… it’s hard, but I’m grateful that He is good.
Oh man, what maturity brings you know? I too am grateful for His goodness.
Hmm… tough questions, indeed. Thankfully, I haven’t yet had to experience reasons to ask questions like “Why did my kid have to die…” But… I don’t know. The question that I find myself asking most often is “Why do You still care about me?” However, this question doesn’t really fit in with all the questions you mention above.
I guess that at the moment I am quite content with believing that He is in control. I have asked many questions a few years ago and all I got was “You’ll see.” So, I am waiting when He will finally decide to show me. And He starts showing me good parts about the past already….
I have asked that question also Zee and the only answer i get is “Read My Word.” 🙂 As for the last sentence: that is awesome He is giving you that backwards glance. It is, as they say, 20/20. Thanks for coming by. Love seeing you visit.
I am sure plenty have questions for God. I try not to burden Him with too many questions. I just accept what He does and occasionally ask for insight and a place in ministry where I can be effective in spreading His glory. Mostly I just pray for others less fortunate.
I don’t think you can burden God with too many questions Larry. but i am sure He is thrilled that you pray for others. Thanks for the comment.
I definitely had my fair share of questions, but I’m realizing more and more that there will never be enough answers. A lot of times those answers will never be sufficient, but the beauty is that God still is in control. I’m learning to really embrace that more and more.
“there will never be enough answers.” True words Jon. Very true. Thanks for coming by.
Man have I asked a lot of why questions. But a lot of my why questions ended up sounding like a rebelious 4 year old. “Don’t touch the stove” “WHY?”
And honestly, a lot of my why questions were selfish. Why didn’t I get my way basically.
A lot of my why questions ended when I quit focusing on what I wanted and started trying to focus on what God wants.
Now I am beginning to ask, how can you use this and what do you want me to learn from this?
Good word, Bill, as usual.
-Peace
You stated things so plainly here Allen. I like your third paragraph. that is the key! Thanks.