I think our questions can keep us from God. I don’t have any statistical proof on this. Yet, when people share their reasons for keeping God at a distance, I sense they’ve had a bad experience that turned them away from God. Sometimes, it’s what they experienced in a church or with other Christians. Others can’t reconcile how bad things can happen to good people. Still, others aren’t even sure that God exists. Others just live with doubts, too paralyzed to seek answers to their questions.
I’ve had my share of questions for God, too. I had questions about being single for so long. I longed for kids, but God said, “No.” Why? I’ve questioned God about how Christians could be so mean and abusive. I’ve even asked God more recently how could He allow one bad thing after another.Despite my questions, I truly believe we should take note of our questions and seek God for answers. I often think we want God to explain Himself to us like He is a human being. We want to see Him on our level. The reality is that He is not on our level. He is God. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” I’m so glad that God is God, and we are not! His ways are perfect, and that means He never makes mistakes.
So why would a loving God allow bad things to happen? I honestly have asked Him the same thing. You and I may never know the answer to that question. The Book of Job deals with this issue. Job was a righteous man (Job 1:1), yet he suffered in so many ways that it was hard to fathom! God allowed Satan to do everything he wanted to except kill him. Job’s response is found in Job 13:15: “Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him.” Job 1:21: “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away, may the name of the LORD be praised.” Job didn’t get all that was happening nor understand why God had allowed these things. But Job did know that God was good, and he would continue to trust in him. God uses the bad things in our lives for the ultimate good.
Why do Christians act as they do? Christians certainly aren’t perfect and sin like everyone else. But God calls Christians to be different. Sadly, I think many have distanced themselves from God because of how Christians have treated them. The behavior of some who call themselves Christians can be quite awful. There will always be Christians not acting like Christians. But God doesn’t want His children to conform to other Christians. He calls us to conform to the image of Christ. (Romans 8:29) He is patient as we grow in our relationship with Him. He longs for us to be patient with others and forgive each other as we grow in Christ.
Got questions? Well, why not pursue answers to your questions?
“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers- most of which are never even seen- don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, not to be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way He works fuss over these things, but you know about God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.” Matthew 6:30-33 The Message
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
