God Can Handle Your Tough Questions

Let me tell you upfront.  Sunday’s sermon was off the chain.  Every Sunday I get a word, but this Sunday hit a nerve.  This sermon pulled up a chair in my house and sat right at the dinner table.  I ate it up and left the table more than satisfied.  I left the table absolutely full.

Habakkuk 1:1-6 was the focal point of the sermon.  Habakkuk is considered a minor prophet.  Not because his ministry lacks validity but because his book in the Bible is small.  Small book but mighty message.  In these verses, we find the prophet Habakkuk frustrated.  He is concerned.  Injustice is prevalent everywhere he turns.  He cries out to God-the mighty, matchless, wonderful, powerful God- for deliverance for His people.  And God does not save.

So Habakkuk gets to the heart of the matter.  He hits God with the tough questions.  How long will Habakkuk have to cry out before God responds?  Why does God keep showing Habakkuk iniquity?  Why does he see trouble all around?  Does God hear him?  Why won’t God save him???

Habakkuk is not alone.  The longer that we walk on the earth, the more injustice and trouble abound in our lives.  When we are taught not to question God, it can leave us in a precarious situation.  Let’s be honest.  Many of us have faced situations that leave us frustrated and desperate.  Heartache after heartache pile on us.  Who better to talk to than the One who can actually do something about it?

God not only heard Habakkuk’s tough questions, but He answered them.  Habakkuk was not delusional.  The Chaldeans were indeed rising up against them.  The world was in disarray.  God’s response to Habakkuk was firm.  He says watch how I work this thing out for you.  Get ready to be amazed by how I use this calamity to work a new thing in your life.  Even if I told you how I was going to work it out, you would not believe me.  Be astounded by My goodness.

Habakkuk would not have been given that encouragement if he had not voiced the questions that were eating away at him.  I also would not have been as charged up by the sermon if I had not been asking God the very same questions myself.  I serve the God of the universe.  If He cannot handle the tough questions, then how is He able to handle this universe?  Questions are necessary.  They help us to establish why we believe what we believe.

My faith is evolving.  I am digging deeper, and it is causing me to have tough questions.  It is causing me to not stay silent.  It is moving me to ask God the tough questions concerning my life.  Questions that need answers.  Questions that make me seek God more.  And I was reassured that God can handle every tough question that I have.  #wepreach

Tough-ish questions:

• Were you raised that questioning God is bad?
• How do you respond when challenges continue to mount up?
• Do you feel comfortable being honest with God about your challenges?