Human beings are naturally curious and inquisitive creatures and the question of ‘why?’ is never far from our lips when it comes to religious matters. We may be faced with perplexing situations in life, and the first thought we turn to is “What does the Bible say about this?” We should indeed be turning to the Scriptures for answers, but when in doubt, what does the Bible say about questioning God?
The Bible encourages us to question God in our faith journey. Psalm 145:18 tells us that God is near to all who call on him; who call on him in truth. If we are struggling with a difficult issue or situation, we can bring it to God. We should seek answers from him, whilst having faith that he will provide us with wisdom. It is possible to explore our doubts and find peace within them.
But it’s also important for us to remember that God has a plan beyond understanding. We question God as if “He owes us an explanation” yet this is not true. Romans 8:28 tells us that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose. Whilst we may not be able to fathom the true workings of God’s plan, we can trust that his plan is good, and to understand that our lack of knowledge does not invalidate the truth of his word.
In addition, the Bible also warns us against questioning God. Hebrews 10:31 tells us that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. We should be wary of hardening our hearts against God’s will and forgetting to trust in him. We should also be careful not to doubt God’s reliability and capability. God’s omniscience and power extends to all circumstances, and it should be remembered that His plan is far greater than our mere understanding.
The Bible warns us of the consequences of questioning God, but it does not condemn those who do so. Instead, it directs us to seek out answers from Him and encourages us to make full use of the freedom to think and question. As believers, we should learn how to express our doubts openly and, most importantly, bring them to God. Only then can we learn the answers we seek.
There will be times in life when our faith is tested and we are tempted to doubt God’s goodness. Despite this, it is possible to turn our questions to faith-filled conversations with God. Only when we are brave enough to put our doubts before God – asking the ‘why?’s and ‘how?’s – can we learn about his plans and gain a greater understanding of His Word.
Doubting Ourselves
It’s not only God that we question. We often find ourselves questioning our own capabilities, too. In times of weakness and fear, we may doubt our own capabilities to do God’s work. We question if we’re good enough, or if we have what it takes to be God’s instrument. It’s important to remember that it takes strength and courage to battle the voices of doubt in our heads and trust God to give us the power to make our goals and dreams a reality.
The Bible is filled with examples of how God used ordinary people to do extraordinary things. From the leadership of Moses to the triumphs of David, God shows us that even the most unlikely of people can overcome obstacles and achieve great things when they follow God’s lead. That is to say, God’s road often snaked around and few turn away from faith as Peter did; yet God still uses him for His purpose. So rather than doubting our own capabilities; we should look to the scriptures and remember these promises of what God can do.
It’s easy to forget that the Bible shows us how God is always in control. Even when it seems like we’re on the brink of a great loss, Romans 8:28 reminds us that God is still present and always working to turn our “impossible” into the “possible”; our heartsickness into hope, and our failures into miracles. What’s more, Paul says in Philippians 4:13 that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, so the power and strength we need to do God’s work, is available to us only when we turn to Him and ask.
Despite these encouraging words, it’s still natural to feel doubt and fear as human beings, and the Bible does not condemn us for this. Instead it offers us the reassurance and consolation of its promises, guiding us through our darkest moments and helping us to understand that our doubts can fuel an even stronger faith.
Doubting God’s Word and Promises
We question God’s promises when we feel like our prayers are going unanswered. We may feel like God isn’t listening, or his promises aren’t consistent with what we’re seeing in our lives. Yet, we can draw strength from these moments and deepen our faith in His word.
It’s easy to become discouraged and frustrated when God isn’t fulfilling our expectations right away, but we must remember that His timing is always perfect, even though it may not always match up with our own. The Bible tells us in Lamentations 3:23 that God’s mercies are new every morning, and He promises to work all things together for the good of those who love Him. While our doubts often lead us to question God’s word and his promises, we can rest assured that God knows what is best and will never leave us or forsake us.
When our faith is tested, it’s always good to remember the words of Psalm 56:3 which says “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.” This is a reminder that despite our doubts and questions, we can always trust in God’s love and faithfulness. He is a loving Father who works all things for our good and will always be there leading the way.
The Bible encourages us to hold fast to God’s promises and to look at everything through a lens of faith. No matter how dark things may seem, God is moving in unseen ways. We must remember that trials test our faith and open us up to greater spiritual maturity, which will equip us to come out stronger in the end.
We All Need Answers
We all struggle with our doubt in some form and it can be tempting to look for answers on our own. However, the Bible tells us that all our answers must come from God – that is His will for us. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to “trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding” and that he will “direct our path”.
Although we may have doubts in times of difficulty, the Bible reminds us that God has our best interests at heart. We must always remember that even when our circumstances don’t make sense, God knows exactly what he is doing and is in full control of our lives.
We may never have the answers we seek on this side of eternity, but the Bible teaches us to lean on God’s faithfulness and to pursue a life of inquiry and exploration, in order to draw closer to God. The closer we draw to Him, the more we learn about His promises and character. The Bible is clear that God wants us to trust Him and His perfect plan for our life, no matter how hard it may be to see in the moment.
Putting Our Trust in God
It often takes great courage to put our trust in God and follow the path He has set out for us, even when we may be full of doubts. When we find ourselves in these situations, Psalm 34:4-5 tells us to, “Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass”.
We all struggle with doubts, but the Bible teaches us that through faith and prayer, we can combat this fear and discover the assurance of God’s promises. When we trust Him and commit our lives to him, He will reveal amazing and wonderful things.
Even when the sea looks dark and fearful, we should remember the counsel of Psalm 27:1-2 which says “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”. As believers, we should have confidence in God’s love and power, even when we don’t have answers to our questions.
The Bible tells us that we have the freedom to question, and that our questioning need not lead to doubt and distrust. Rather, with a humble heart, we can confidently turn to God for the truth and find that He is present in all of our struggles and joys. He alone is the source of all understanding and knowledge, so may we turn to Him for wisdom when seeking answers to life’s most perplexing questions.
A husband of one wife, father of two beautiful girls, laborer of Lord, Jesus Christ, and a servant to God’s His saints. I hope to encourage you by God’s grace. Thank you for stopping by.
