Thought for Monday, January 28th

January 28, 2013

Questioning God

Is there a difference in asking God a question and questioning God?

  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

Colossians 1:16

But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

Psalms 115:3

And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

Daniel 4:35

“Can you worship a God who isn’t obligated to explain His actions to you?  Could it be your arrogance that makes you think God owes you an explanation? ”

-       Francis Chan

There is probably not one of us who do not have a whole plethora of questions for God.  I know I have hundreds of them: but isn’t their a profound difference in asking God a question; as opposed to questioning God?

Asking a question usually indicates a desire to understand something better or to help garner a deeper knowledge of it: while questioning implies a predisposition towards an assumption that the person being interrogated has done something wrong or messed up somehow.  We would never want to presume to be so bold as to suggest God had made a mistake – for in truth He is not capable of it:   yet we sometimes do find ourselves asking God why He allowed this or that to happen and why didn’t He do this or that.

God’s thoughts are way beyond ours and there are some of His reasons, rationales and decisions that defy our comprehension but He is God and all of creation is subject to Him and it is not always necessary for us to question, but rather by faith to embrace and accept that He knows what He is doing, why He is doing it and how it is all going to turn out in the end.  Sometimes we may need to ask for grace, mercy or strength to help us to do this but the fact of the matter remains God does not owe us an explanation for anything.

I truly don’t believe God minds us asking for edification but if our inquiries take on an accusatory nature then I think we need to step back and remember just who it is we are talking too.  After all He is, was and always will be and that is just an irrefutable fact.

Today’s Prayer

Father, help me to accept those things that defy my logic in faith and trust that you know what is best even when I can’t seem to understand it.