Questions

Unanswered questions can be challenging and often troubling.
Why? What? When? Why now? How come? What is up with this? How long? What next? How can good come out of this situation? God, what are You doing about this?
Questions. Questions. Questions. It is so human and natural for you and me, even as Christians, to seek answers to issues and situations that are beyond our control, incomprehensible and have upset life’s apple cart. The truth is, you and I do not like question marks!
Sudden serious illness, premature death of a loved one, life-altering tragedies, broken relationships, severe financial reversals, unsolicited negative surprises, crippling setbacks and unexpected turns of events leave us scratching our heads, wondering what has happened and seeking God for answers we so desperately desire.
The bad news is life is full of questions. The good news is God promises to help us navigate through our tumultuous sea of heart-breaking, gut-wrenching, mind-boggling, life-altering unanswered questions to find peace amid the emotional storm.
As a pastor for over four decades, I have been called upon repeatedly by fellow believers who are in shock, hurting, suffering, wondering and asking the question “Why Pastor?”
My initial response is to love them with the love of Christ and honestly respond “I don’t know.”  I weep with those who weep, comfort those who need comforted and assure them that the Lord is with them though they do not understand what is happening.
It is a bewildering, unsettling fact that there are some questions you and I have that will never be answered this side of heaven. No answer. That is hard for me because my inquiring mind wants to know. I want to “fix” things. It is frustrating to not be able to fix the “whys?” of life.
Too often I have implored God to provide the answer that I think He should have to my question. Not knowing is perplexing at best, discouraging at worst.
I have been asked by brothers and sisters in Christ if God will answer the questions we have had here when we get to heaven. My reply:  I am not sure our questions about life here will be relevant in eternity. There will be no need for answers in glory because there will be no questions. Heaven is a death, accident, tragedy, illness, suffering, crying, grieving, pain and earth memory free zone!
There are things you and I do not get to fix on earth. Over time, through much concerted and concentrated effort I have learned to “fix my eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2.} the author and finisher of our faith.”
Faith in the Lord is the answer to the questions in my life.
Biblical faith is believing God that He knows what He is doing and I can trust Him for His good, acceptable and perfect will to be done. It is not always easy, but it is imperative for you and me to trust God for what we do not understand.
It is not a sin or wrong to ask God questions.
You and I are not alone. Throughout the entire Bible men and women had questions. Some were answered, some were not. Search the Word. Study the accounts of people like you and me who resolved the dilemma of not knowing when they wanted to know by standing in unshakable, immovable faith.
Jesus had a question as He hung dying on the Cross at Calvary.
Suffering like you and I cannot possibly imagine, the Son of God cried out to heaven “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me.” (Matthew 27:46). Never throughout eternity had the Son questioned His Father. Jesus willfully and willingly came to earth to fulfill the Father’s will to be Savior of humanity. (Matthew 26:36-46).
Forsaken. Rejected. Abandoned. Alone in His agony. Why Father? Imagine the pain the Father felt as He turned His back on His only Son because Jesus became sin for us. A holy God could not behold sin. Instead, sin was judged in the death of His sinless Son. That is how much God loves you and me.
Jesus cried out “Why?”  Heaven was eerily silent. No answer to Jesus’ desperate question. Jesus descended to hell for three days then rose triumphantly from the tomb in victory over sin, death and the grave! The world had a Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord!
Jesus was separated from the Father for a brief time to secure salvation for you and me. His question was answered ultimately when He rose from the dead and ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. Jesus trusted His question to the Father.
If Jesus could trust the Father with a “why?” so can you and I with His help.
Do you have unanswered questions?
Seek the Lord when seeking answers to questions that seem to be unanswerable. The ultimate answer for all questions is to receive peace from the presence of Jesus.
 My friend, when a question troubles you, surrender your question. Release your faith. Let go of your questions to the One who loves you and does have the answers.
Then receive peace from God that passes understanding, comfort through the Holy Spirit that soothes the questioning mind and encouragement and contentment from the Lord Jesus.
Never allow a question mark to cause you to doubt your faith.
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed to us belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the works of the law.” Deuteronomy 29:29
 “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and do not lean on your own understanding; acknowledge Him in all of your ways (including questions, my insert) and He will make your path straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
A Word For Your Week: Trust God with your questions.