Weekly Devotional: Asking the Hard Questions

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” — Hebrews 4:16, NIV

Life is full of questions from simple everyday questions like “What should I wear to work?” to more difficult questions like “Why would something like this happen to me?” Not only can these questions be confusing, but they can also be frightening. The good news is we do not have to be afraid of asking these questions. God is ready and willing to hear about struggles, doubts and fears. In fact, the Bible encourages us to “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence.”

Seek and You Will Find

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” — Matthew 7:7, NIV

We can seek answers to our questions. How can we do this? One way is through prayer, we can bring our questions to God. He will listen to all our questions, even the hard ones. Another way is through the Bible. We can search for answers to our questions in the scriptures and God can help us understand His words. Seeking guidance from other Christians can also sometimes help us see the big picture.

At times, we may not get direct answers to our questions in this life. However, we can find contentment in the fact that God holds our future and our answers. Even when we do not receive a direct response, we can count on Him to give us what we need at the time.

Questions in the Bible

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” — James 1:5, NIV

Many individuals in the Bible have asked hard questions, including Jesus when he cried out on the cross (Matthew 27:46). Even Godly people may have questions for God about life and His plan.

Some biblical examples include:

• “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 18:18, NIV)
• “For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?” (Psalm 18:31, NIV)
• “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Psalm 118:6, NIV)
• “If someone dies, will they live again?” (Job 14:14, NIV)
• “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” (Matthew 18:21, NIV)

It is perfectly reasonable to sometimes have questions or doubts. As humans, it is impossible for us to comprehend everything. Thus, if we have questions it is okay to look for answers and seek understanding.

Seek the Lord

“But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.” — Deuteronomy 4:29, NIV

In short, when we have hard questions or are struggling with something, we should seek the Lord. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” We might not always get the answer we want to our questions, but when we seek the Lord, we can find peace even in the midst of questioning.

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