What To Do When Things Don't Make Sense
It seems lately that I constantly struggle with faith. There are so many questions I have about God, Jesus, the Bible, and life in general that often seem to not make sense. I find myself frustrated. Does everything about God and the Bible have to make sense? When things don't make sense what should we do? Question more? Seek? Give Up? Have faith even though it may not make sense? I think that we as Christians sometime think or even stress to one another that everything makes sense or should make sense if we have faith. Does it? Do you think we stress this within churches and to each other as believers and does this hurt faith? I find faith a constant struggle. Do you? What do you do when you find things that don't make sense? How do you deal with the questions you have about God, Jesus, the Bible and life in general? Have you felt frustrated? What do you do?
What do you think?
Share your thoughts.
posted by preacherman @ 9:24:00 PM
17 Comments:
My apologies that this is not on the topic of your post, but I have a question that I hope you can answer. I am interested in learning Greek, but am not in a position to go to school to do so. I spent a year at LCU and attempted to commute to OCU but it did not work out.
Can you give some advice on what type of books and tools would best help in my learning the language?
Thanks,
Brent
My struggles are with me not with my faith. I think a good definition of faith is simply, "Taking God at his word".
The Bible says "By faith we understand that the world was framed by the word of God". I believe that is true, and I have never doubted for an instant that God created everything. I don't understand any of it but it is truth to me because God said it.
The same idea is true of the virgin birth of Jesus, His miracles, and His resurrection from the dead. No, we don't have to understand, we have to trust God's revelation and stand on it.
Often children don't understand the whys or hows or whens but learn it is a good thing to trust what their parents say. The same is true with us as God's children.
I hope this makes sense and might be helpful.
Love in Jesus,
Royce
Psalm 1 begins with, "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, for stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night" (ESV).
Sometimes our faith can be mocked and ridiculed. Even some leaders within churches have been known to create an atmosphere of doubt and ridicule toward God's word. I have seen those who thrive on deconstructing the message of God and casting doubt on it. They have harmed the faith of many people in the process (and I have seen a couple of churches nearly destroyed by it). They have denied the inerrancy of the Bible, the necessity of faith in Jesus Christ for one's salvation, and the ability of God to know the future. They have sought to replace genuine Christianity with a kind of Christianity that lacks trust in the Lord, his word, and his clear ethical and moral standards.
Psalm 1 would advise us to avoid such scoffing religious leaders. They will harm us and our faith.
Rather, we should delight in the law of the Lord so that our faith will endure and prosper. We need to find encouragement by associating with people who will build up our faith instead of trying to deconstruct it.
I understand that this may not be the type of response that you are looking for, but I read about someone recently who lost his faith because he kept reading the writings of religious leaders who mocked biblical Christianity. I saw the danger in it, and the warning of Psalm 1 to be appropriate in such situations.
"Does everything about God and the Bible have to make sense? When things don't make sense what should we do?"
The bible made perfect sense to me until pain entered my life. It made sense because I lived and believed from my head. Once intense pain came (when my first wife died) my brain didn't do it for me any more - I had to begin to live and believe from my heart. Some things still don't make sense but my heart seems to be at peace even in the midst of the storm.
Mat 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou [wilt].
Mat 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
Mat 26:44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
Mat 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak.
It seems even Jesus had his times of weakness, now could we be expected to be stronger.
Kinney; it seems to me that you don't necessarily struggle with faith but rather with the understanding of the Scripture (Bible) and God's ways pertaining to life. Because of that lack of understanding you get frustrated and nothing makes sense.
The answer to that is simple; since all wisdom, knowledge and understanding is in Christ Jesus our Lord, therefore we should ask Him for whatever is lacking in our life and Jesus will lead us into all the truth, so that we would understand all things and then it surely would make a lot of sense.
The Lord Jesus has not given us a spirit of stupor but of power, love and a sound mind.
How can I instruct a man in godliness, if I do not understand what godliness is?
How can I preach the gospel, if I do not know what the gospel is?
How can I lead someone to God if I do not know who God is?
How can I say that something is true, when it doesn't make sense?
And the list goes on and on.
Prov. 4:20-23
The words of the Lord;
My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body.
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
Paul
"we should ask Him for whatever is lacking in our life and Jesus will lead us into all the truth, so that we would understand all things and then it surely would make a lot of sense."
I would love to hear an example of how that practically worked out for you Paul and if your issues were of the magnitude of the kind of extreme health issues that Kinney deals with.
I so admire you Kinney. The questions you ask are heartfelt and humble. And even though you struggle you still press on towards the upward call of Christ. I have never met you in the flesh but consider you a great man of faith.
Bob; I don't know the magnitude of Kinney's sufferings or yours.
But what I do know is that all sickness, disease, calamity or whatever bad or good comes from the Lord Jesus [Ex. 4:11+ 1 Sam.2:6+ Deut. 32:39 and many more]. He is the creator of all things; nothing came into being apart from Him, whether powers or principalities in heaven or on earth, NOTHING came into being apart from Jesus Christ.
Well Bob, I will ask you then;
What is easier for the Lord Jesus to say, your sins are forgiven or let your body be cleansed from all extreme sicknesses?
What do you think is easier for the Lord Jesus to heal a headache or totally and instantly restore a withered arm or limb?
Do you think that Jesus is still hanging on the cross?
Or is He unable to identify with your or Kinney's sickness?
Or does He need the hands of a doctor to heal all your afflictions?
Bob; you should know better, not to give anyone a false comfort!
As for me; I have never had serious sickness, but the power of my wonderful Lord Jesus had been manifested in my life on numerous times to the extreme extent.
On one occasion I fell from a height of about 5.3 meters sideways onto a little aluminum stepladder below. The pain was excruciating, something I never had experienced to that degree before, and I thought that all of my ribs on my right side would be broken since I am 85 Kg of weight. In my nearly unbearable pain I called on the Name of Jesus to take my pain away and to heal all my ribs in my body.
As I was on the floor, Jesus turned up and healed me instantaneously. It felt something like a big vacuum-cleaner sucking all my pain out of my body in about two seconds, and Jesus said to me; 'see, if you call upon me I will quickly come to your aid'.
The awesome presence of my wonderful Lord filled the place and tears of joy pouring out of my eyes. As I wanted to thank Him, my words would not obey me and I could not say anything, so I worshiped Jesus with all of my heart.
Bob or Kinney; this is the God of the Bible; I wonder do you know Him?
Kind regards
Paul
@Paul - What you wrote simply saddens me.. calling me and Kinney (by innuendo) unbelievers is so sad.
I am happy that the Lord showed up in His mercy for you but I fear that you have robbed Him of the glory by speaking such formulaic words about the way that He healed you saying (by innuendo) that your prayer healed you. Prayers don't heal Paul.. faith does not heal.. God heals.. when He chooses.
I am sad that you cannot admire Kinney's perseverance and instead of offering encouragement you cast condemnation using health and wealth formulas.
Do you know nothing of mercy? Have you ever prayed for a friend and watch them get worse? Are all of your prayers answered? Can you not relate to struggling at all? If not I simply feel sorry for you.
Bob; "Unbeliever" is a very broad term, and what does that mean to you?
Does that mean, not believing Jesus for salvation?
Or not believing that Jesus would heal all your sickness and afflictions?
Or not believing that there is a God?
Or not believing that Jesus is that God?
Or not believing that Jesus has forgiven us all our sins?
And there are many more examples like that.
Also, perhaps you are giving me too much credit, I can assure you that I am not capable of sneaking into the presence of the Lord and while He is not watching robbing Him of His glory.:-)
You said that 'faith does not heal'.
If you don't believe me, then believe what Jesus said; "Daughter, take courage; YOUR FAITH has made you well." [Mat. 9:20-22]
Well brother; sometimes we have to eat the bitter herbs in order to get healed.
In my experience, it always was that which I did not like which benefited me most.
Tell me; who likes the command of the Lord "REPENT"?
All those who perish don't like the correction and the reproof of the Lord.
Foolish isn't it!
Concerning mercy;
If the dentist removes a tooth, does that mean that he has no mercy?
Kind regards
Paul
I have been frustrated before, and still struggle with this issue.
I think faith means believing even though things don't make sense.
However, Jesus also said, "Seek and you will find."
Notice, though, that He never said WHEN you would find what you're looking for!
But then again, what if I DON'T get "all the answers" in heaven? What if God said, "Nope! I'm not gonna answer all your questions."
Would I then say, "Fine, I'm outta here!"??
NO WAY!
I guess that's part of trusting God.
@Paul G - Do not having anything to say apart from what I earlier commented. I did appreciate that you called me brother :)
Well what I have to say may or may not make a difference here,but I will continue to comment anyway.The topic fit the situation I have been going though.
I think the key here is ~Do we believe all of what the bible says? Are we willing to go through the process of how God has taught us to live .Let me give an example of what brought me to this place.
In December 2010 I decided that I had had enough of the job I was in (1 month shy of 16yrs) So I made up my mind that I was giong to venture out by "Faith" and seek God's will for my life and trust him to supply all my needs in the midst of it all. Boy was I in for a change!!! I am still unemployed almost 2 yrs later,but the way God has used this time to build up my "FAITH" and take me to levels in him that I never would have gotten to -had I not took the leap.
But my thing here is this-I have questioned on several occasions -Lord where is this open door I am seeking you for? Why ? When? How? I am still standing on his word -Sometimes not a strongly and boldly as I ought,but I have to give God the "Glory" here for all that he has done in me.
I believe there are many times in our lives that we must simply walk it out by "FAITH" and let Him mold us on that "POTTERS WHEEL" for he is the Potter and we are the clay ..It has to be more that head knowledge guys-It's gotta be a heart thing all the way...Lord I trust you though I don't see -though I don't understand..I know by Faith you are working all things out for my good and your Glory !!
Remember those 2 great commands:
that Jesus says on these 2 hang all the others !!
Job said: Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
Smith Wigglesworth said-'Just Believe!!
Keep it simple --the word is so powerful -but so many try to nake it so hard.
Love you all with the Love of the Lord !!
Well what I have to say may or may not make a difference here,but I will continue to comment anyway.The topic fit the situation I have been going though.
I think the key here is ~Do we believe all of what the bible says? Are we willing to go through the process of how God has taught us to live .Let me give an example of what brought me to this place.
In December 2010 I decided that I had had enough of the job I was in (1 month shy of 16yrs) So I made up my mind that I was giong to venture out by "Faith" and seek God's will for my life and trust him to supply all my needs in the midst of it all. Boy was I in for a change!!! I am still unemployed almost 2 yrs later,but the way God has used this time to build up my "FAITH" and take me to levels in him that I never would have gotten to -had I not took the leap.
But my thing here is this-I have questioned on several occasions -Lord where is this open door I am seeking you for? Why ? When? How? I am still standing on his word -Sometimes not a strongly and boldly as I ought,but I have to give God the "Glory" here for all that he has done in me.
I believe there are many times in our lives that we must simply walk it out by "FAITH" and let Him mold us on that "POTTERS WHEEL" for he is the Potter and we are the clay ..It has to be more that head knowledge guys-It's gotta be a heart thing all the way...Lord I trust you though I don't see -though I don't understand..I know by Faith you are working all things out for my good and your Glory !!
Remember those 2 great commands:
that Jesus says on these 2 hang all the others !!
Job said: Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
Smith Wigglesworth said-'Just Believe!!
Keep it simple --the word is so powerful -but so many try to nake it so hard.
Love you all with the Love of the Lord !!
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