14 April 2013 by Timothy Tai CM-
One of the things that many people struggle with is whether or not it’s okay to question God during times of great tragedy and hardship. Perhaps that’s you. Maybe you’re trying to come to terms with a failed relationship in your life or maybe you’re still grieving over the death of someone that you dearly love. In the midst of all your confusion and pain, you might be wondering: “Is it wrong to question God when bad things happen?”
If that’s you, I want you to know that the answer to your question is a big fat ‘NO’. It’s alright for you to be honest with God and to ask Him the questions that you have in your heart. And that won’t make you any less of a Christian either. It simply means that you’re perfectly human, just like all the heroes of the faith that have gone on before us.
Take Moses for example. We all know how Moses obeyed God by asking Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. However, when Pharaoh refused and increased the Israelites’ workload instead, look at what Moses responded:
Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.” – Exodus 5:22-23
And then there’s Job. Here’s a man who feared God and shunned evil. In fact, God described Job as ‘blameless and upright’ and said that ‘there was no one on earth like him’ (Job 1:8). However, when calamity struck and Job lost all his wealth, his children and even his physical health, this is what he did:
Job asked God, “If I have sinned, what have I done to you, you who see everything we do? Why have you made me your target? Have I become a burden to you? Why do you not pardon my offenses and forgive my sins? For I will soon lie down in the dust; you will search for me, but I will be no more.” – Job 7:20-21
Most of all, let’s not forget Jesus. We know that in Jesus we have a high priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses because he ‘was tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin’ (Hebrews 4:15). We are told in the Gospel of Matthew that even Jesus questioned God as he was hanging on the cross:
From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?) – Matthew 7:45-46
It’s perfectly clear from the bible that it’s okay to bring our questions to God when life hurts and we don’t understand why things happen the way they do. However, I cannot stress enough how important it is that we do it in the right way. After Job had lost everything and was afflicted with sores all over his body, his wife said to him:
“Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”
Job replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?”
In all this, Job did not sin in what he said. – Job 2:9-10
Towards the end of the book of Job, and after all of Job’s questions, God commends Job for his righteous words and restores his fortunes, giving him twice as much as he had before. All because Job maintained his integrity and did not curse God despite all the great suffering he had been through.
Likewise, it is of the utmost importance that we hold on to our integrity whenever we question God and come to Him with total reverence and humility. If none of us would dare to appear arrogantly before an earthly king, how much more must we remain deferential and humble before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Let us remember that in the end, He is God after all and we are but dust that is here today and gone tomorrow.
Note: Timothy grew up in Kuching and worked in KL before jumping off the corporate ladder in 2006. He moved to New York City where he served at an inner-city kids ministry for almost 6 years. He has since returned to KL and has just married his Irish fiancee Sarah.
Dear Viewers in Christ, if you find this article edifying to you, please share with your friends or loved ones by using the social media plugs (Share, Email to this article). The Lord will surely bless you as you bless others. May the Lord’s peace and love be with you. Amen.
References for pictures:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9ihK9_CfYX0/S0UcgoBnjTI/AAAAAAAAB8Q/p50nXOVPpHc/s400/why.jpg
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k27/jakyl32/1-365%20Rosaries-%20FEBRUARY/job3.jpg
http://heavenawaits.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/clip_image010.jpg
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