Questioning Your Faith? : Good!
Sometimes we have to question our faith to build our faith.
It’s okay to question your faith. We all do it. Whether we admit it or not. The key is to do it properly. Instead of just throwing up our hands and walking away, we must press in. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). If you’re not reading the Word you will not increase your faith. You will not learn.
I remember when my high school English teacher, prompted by some comment I had made, asked with mock surprise, “Jenny, do you think your parents would want you to question your faith?”
I’m not sure if she was a believer, but given how I’ve never been shy about my faith, there was no doubt how I was being raised. With little thought I quickly replied, “Yes, ma’am I do. If I never question my faith for myself it will never truly be mine.”
Study for the Test
Think about the courses you had to work the hardest for. Usually the ones you really didn’t understand, right? So what did you do? Did you just throw up your hands and walk away? No! Not finishing wasn’t an option! You had to get through the course.
Ok, in college there’s the occasional option to audit, but to graduate I could not walk up to my algebra professor and say, “Hey I don’t get this stuff. And quite frankly I’m not even sure I believe E=mc2, so I’m just going to scrap this one.” Nope, try as I may, the only way to get through was to dig into the material.
You probably weren’t happy about it, but you had to accept that hitting the books was your only option. But as you studied. As you dug in. As you took your questions and let them guide you in your exploration of the text you began to understand more and more. And sometimes you may have even found yourself enjoying and growing and learning and applying. (Now the enjoying part never happened for me with algebra, though I did manage to ace the class.)
The Word At Work
Here’s a really cool thing about the way God works. Often when you have questions. When you have doubts. When you are confused. When out of your frustration you dig into His Word, searching for answers you end up better off than those who never struggle because they never really had to get into the Text.
Sure, we all think we want to just breeze through life, but if you’re questioning and you’re doubting that’s when you dig into the Word of God. And as you press in He draws near to you (James 4:8). The Word, which is alive and active (Hebrew 4:12), begins to work in your heart. The peace of God begins to guard you. The Holy Spirit begins to reveal things to you and teach you. You being to grow and be strengthen in your inner being. The roots of your faith begin to go down deep. The eyes of your heart begin to be opened. And the Word of the Lord (the sword of the Spirit) begins to penetrate deep in your soul, hashing these things out.
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you.” (1 Peter 5:10 AMPC)
He will give you what you need to pass the test. You will not be tested beyond what you can bear because He will always make a way out. (1 Corinthians 10:13; James 1:2-4)
My Personal Testing
I believe in being transparent, and this is where I am right now. It’s not the first time I’ve been here, and it probably is not going to be the last. Fact is, I’m questioning stuff. I hate the state of this world we live in. I’m confused by things that God allows. But I’ve been here before, and I know He always comes through.
Even though I’m struggling. I’m frustrated. I’m dealing with some inner issues of anxiety and heaviness and overwhelm. Nevertheless, I know He’s going to come through because He’s done it before. And just as David ran toward his giant reminding himself of the past victories the Lord had given him, I too need to “gird up the loins of my mind” (1 Peter 5:10). Pull up all that stuff that’s tripping me up. And march forward. Remembering past times when the presence and the power of God has been so tangible in my life.
I must stand on what I know regardless of how I feel.
I know on the other side of this time of testing and questioning and struggling there will be a greater revelation and plenty more material for me to share with anyone the Lord puts in my path.
May you, my friend receive encouragement from my issues! May none of my struggles ever be in vain. His power is made perfect in my weakness, so I will boast in my weakness that the power of Christ may be seen in and through my junk!
My mess is my message, so here it is. I trust that God can and will use it to bring Himself glory and work good in the hearts and lives of whomever He chooses.
To Him be the glory!
“But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and [a]show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may [b]pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [[c]in human strength], then am I strong (able, powerful [d]in divine strength).” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Resources
If you find yourself struggling under heaviness, frustration, or the temptation to just throw up your hands and say, “Forget it!” I challenge you to check out these incredible women who are guaranteed to speak some life back into your soul. You can find countless messages on their sites and on YouTube. Just pick one!
