My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?
Psalm 22:1 (NIV)The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18 (NIV)It Is Okay to Question
Let me start with something you need to hear: it is okay to be angry at God. It is okay to ask why. It is okay to scream at Him. It is okay to question everything you thought you believed. God is not fragile. He can handle your anger. He can handle your questions. He can handle your doubt.
We have been taught that faith means having no questions. That trust means never asking why. That belief means never doubting. But that is not what the Bible shows us. That is not what the psalms teach us. That is not what Jesus modeled for us.
The Faith That Questions
Look at the psalms. They are filled with questions. They are filled with anger. They are filled with doubt. Why have you forsaken me? How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? These are not the prayers of people who have it all figured out. These are the prayers of people who are hurting. People who are questioning. People who are wondering where God is.
And God does not silence them. He does not correct them. He does not tell them to stop asking questions. He listens. He hears. He meets them in their questioning.
Jesus Modeled This
Even Jesus questioned God. On the cross, He cried out: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? He did not pretend everything was okay. He did not put on a brave face. He did not hide His pain. He questioned. He cried out. He wondered.
And God did not abandon Him for asking. God did not punish Him for questioning. God was there in the middle of the question.
Write Your Questions
Write down every question you have for God. Every why. Every how long. Every where are you. Do not censor yourself. Do not edit yourself. Do not worry about sounding spiritual. Just be honest. Then read them out loud to God.
- What questions am I afraid to ask God?
- What do I really want to say to Him right now?
- How has my grief changed my view of God?
- Do I believe God can handle my anger and questions?
- Can I be honest with God about my doubts?
- How might questioning actually be an act of faith?
God, I am angry. I am confused. I have so many questions. Why did this happen? Where were You? How could You let this happen? I am not pretending I understand. I am not pretending I am okay. I am bringing my questions to You. I am bringing my anger to You. I am bringing my doubt to You. Help me trust that You can handle it all. In Jesus' name, Amen.
God is not afraid of your questions. He is not threatened by your anger. He is not disappointed by your doubt. He meets you in the middle of it all.
With honesty and hope, Claire