Monday, June 17, 2019

Questions, Doubts, and Answers

By: Joanne Viola


Devotional books have a unique way of speaking into our current lives even when they may have been written years ago. They have a way of reminding us that nothing escapes the eye of God. Not a single blessed thing.

The enemy whispers his dirty little lies in which he attempts to make us think we are alone, or forgotten, or God won’t work in our lives.

Then God shows up in the reading of a devotional and proves the enemy wrong – every single time.

Recently as I was reading, some thoughts went through my mind:
  • God’s work in our lives will not be without pain. So why do we expect it to be?
  • Hard things in our lives can still be His working in our lives. Why do we think otherwise?
  • Faith will give meaning to our pain? Why do we think pain has no meaning?
  • God wants us to collaborate with Him, not Him with us. Why do we think He has to go along with our thoughts?
  • The adventure of life is a “sacred” adventure which means God is at the helm. Why do we think we are in control?
Perhaps these thoughts and questions have been the very ones man has been wrestling with since the beginning of time.

My devotional brings me back to the very Scripture which has been crossing my path over the last few weeks:

"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11, NLT)

The promise had been given to God’s people, who would be in exile for seventy years and suffer greatly during those years. But it was a promise which reminded them, that in spite of difficulty, God still had a plan for them which included good and a hope and a future.

God wanted them then, and us now, to seek Him and love Him and serve Him wholeheartedly. He promised an end to their captivity (and ours in difficult situations as well) and restoration.

This word from the prophet gave the people a renewed commitment to God and to His Word. It does the same for us.

It is truly OK to wrestle with questions and doubts.

For when we bring those very doubts and lay them against the canvas of God’s Word, we discover ...

He is God.
He is good.
All that He is doing will be good.
And when that truth floods our souls, we find ourselves trusting Him once again.


Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash




 

5 comments:

  1. Joanne,
    I used to get so down on myself when I had doubts and questions about God and my faith. I thought that "good" Christians didn't doubt. I am learning that when I/we lean into those doubts and questions, God is faithful to meet us there and take us to a deeper level of understanding. I wholeheartedly agree that we need to lay our thoughts up against God's Word and if our thoughts don't match up with Truth, then maybe we need to discard them. Great post!
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

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    1. It's amazing how God can use our doubts and questions to draw us closer to Himself. Thank you for sharing, Bev, as it is always good to know I am not alone. xo

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  2. Why does pain take us by surprise? We've known pain ever since we were born. Yet we still seem to think we shouldn't have any. ha. Thanks for reminding us that the Lord knows what we need and he will always provide the best for us.

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    1. Difficulties may take us by surprise but I want to always remember God never lets us go through them alone.

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  3. Such a good reminder to me today. Thank you, friend.

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