At times we all have questions for God—about how he acts, what he allows, or what’s going on in this world. But be assured, God can take it. Follow the Prophet Habakkuk, whose dialogue with God involves deep lament over sin and suffering (“How long, O Lord?”) yet leads eventually to a quiet trust in the Father’s ways.
Don’t be afraid to bring your questions to God. But also, don’t insist that God must answer your objections on your timetable. You see, the Lord has all eternity in which to disclose to us as much of his sovereign designs as we need to know—so be patient.
Plus, in Scripture we are given answers to many questions—in fact, to all of the urgent questions about who God is, what he’s like, why we exist, how to live, true joy, eternal hope, and more! So before you raise questions (or repeat others’ questions), take time to dig in to the Word of God; study, read, listen, learn. And ask yourself, “Am I willing to accept the answers God gives?”
We need balance. Yes, it’s good to ask questions (and we want Goshen to be a safe place for sharing your doubts or struggles!). But don’t wallow. Don’t let questioning become your default posture. Doing so would demote God and elevate you as “lord”!
Some professing Christians today valorize doubt: “If you don’t doubt long-held beliefs, you must not really be thinking!” But that’s a perilous place to stand. Raise your questions, yes, but then be ready to fall humbly to your knees before God, assured that Judge of all the earth shall do right (Genesis 18:25).
Let me recommend two articles that address a serious question, namely how could a good God command the Israelites to kill certain population groups: Justin Taylor’s article at the Gospel Coalition, “How Could God Command Genocide in the Old Testament?”; and Michael J. Kruger’s blog post, “Is the God of the Bible a Genocidal Maniac?” But beware—if you explore with an open mind, you just might begin to doubt your doubts!
