Got Questions?

We ALL have questions - and that’s okay!

God’s Word encourages us to seek answers. That right there tells us that questions are alright!

GO read Habakkuk! The Prophet Habakkuk looked around and saw pain and suffering and asked God WHY? Why would He allow these things? Why not save His people? Why tolerate wrongdoings?

And God patiently and lovingly answered Habakkuk.

So if you are going through a troubling time, or witnessing this world, or for some reason having a hard time understanding; you are in great company!

James 1:2–4 CSB

Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

These questions that you have are hardships of the mind.

1 Thessalonians 5:21 CSB

but test all things. Hold on to what is good.

God is Love

1 John 4:8 CSB

The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

1 John 4:16 CSB

And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.

This is important for you and I to understand when it comes to having QUESTIONS.

Because God is functioning in love. He does things out of love.

John 3:16–17 CSB

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

SO I want to start this entire series off with this reminder for God’s Children.

SO let’s look at this Question:

How can I return to faith after questioning God?

I have received this question in various forms many times.

So I am going to break it down into the various parts that make this question up, and then we will go through it.

THe first part of this question is: returning to faith after questioning GOd. THe second part is: is it okay to question God. I have already answered the third part of the question: is God angry at me for having questions - God is love.

The first part of the question goes back to bad theology.

Old teaching - if you question God, you have doubt, and doubt is sin, and you must have lost your faith.

Reality - we all have questions - even the Prophets had questions.

Jesus taught by using questions. He would only do this is questions led to answers!

James 1:5–8 CSB

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, being double-minded and unstable in all his ways.

Engage in Conversation - PRAY

Remember to stay Humble - God knows more than we do, and He loves you more than you can imagine.

Sometimes we start struggling and have questions because we lose someone we love - through death or the loss of a friendship.

In the case of death - that is the result of sin IN the world. All the way back in Genesis 3. Death is a sad and painful reality of living in a fallen world.

For believers, death is not goodbye, it is “see you later”.

It can be relief from pain.

I could go on.

If it is loss of a friendship. Well now.

What really needs to happen is change your perspective. Instead of asking: God why did you take this person from me; you should ask: What is God protecting me from!

Remember, He sees things we may never see!

Stay Humble.

Lean on God’s Word - Not your own

Your heart is deceitful, your emotions change.

God never changes. God knows all. TRUST GOD!

Matthew 7:7 CSB

“Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you.

Questions led to understanding. Understanding leads to deeper faith!

We may not receive our answers quickly, or even on this side of heaven.

But remember this:

Philippians 4:8 CSB

Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.