What do you do when you have a question that you’re not sure you want answered? If you are like me, you bury it deep and ignore it until it’s creeping existence in your mind becomes more like a blaring alarm you can’t ignore. Or, you ignore it until someone asks you a question about it and you struggle to respond, because you don’t want to say something you don’t know is true, but you also don’t want to admit that you were too afraid to find out in the first place. Those are the moments when I realize that by ignoring the hard questions, I am missing out on important aspects of my relationship with Jesus.
God gave us his Holy word, the Bible. And he wants us to use it. He has given us a way to know him better. To know his character. To encourage us. To instruct us. And in addition to the Bible, he has given us his Holy Spirit… the counselor, spirit of truth (John 14:16-17), the spirit of knowledge, of wisdom, of understanding (Isaiah 11:2). And if that wasn’t enough, he has also given us each other, a family and support system of believers!
Getting answers to the hard questions is easily said, but harder done, right? We think things like: “What if the answer to my question is not something I can handle? Or not something I can easily explain to non believers? What if it is a deal breaker? I don’t want it to be a deal breaker!”
When these thoughts come, we must remember two things: That God has not given us a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7), and that God is good, his ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). Everything the Lord does is for your good. So even if the answer to your question isn’t want you want it to be, or what fits into your lifestyle, it will be good, because God has your best interest at heart. Don’t believe me? Here are three verses to encourage you:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
“My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.” Jeremiah 24:6-7
“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” John 16:7
Now that we have established that WHATEVER the answer is, it is meant for our good, we can delve into how to grapple with the hard questions.
The story of Jacob is a good example of how to grapple. It can help us understand the fruits of not giving up in a struggle for a blessing.
“That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”
But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?”
“Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”
But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.”
Genesis 32:22-29 NIV
In this story, Jacob is grappling with someone he does not know, and us as readers, do not know how or why in the world he decided to start wrestling with a stranger. But, the fact is, he did, so it was important. As Jacob and the stranger continue to wrestle, the word says “when the man saw that he could not overpower him”.. this doesn’t mean that Jacob was stronger than God, it means that the angel realized that Jacob would not give up (even though he was injured), and as such, Jacob passed the test. He was persistent, was not going to give up until the man blessed him. And God did bless him. He not only blessed him, but changed Jacob’s name to Israel. Jacob went from a man with a name that meant holder of the heel/overthrower (a name that basically embodied envy, coveting, and deceit) to a man with a name that means Prince with God/may God prevail. Don’t miss this: Jacob was made new through his struggle!
How does this story connect to our grapples with the hard questions? It shows us that why or the circumstances that bring doubts and questions are not important, the important part is that we actively wrestle with them! Maybe the stranger represents the questions and doubts we have. And, sometimes when we are grappling with hard questions, we falter, or we are attacked, or something gets in the way of us continuing our pursuit… gives us an excuse to quit. But like Jacob, we must persist. Jacob wasn’t wrestling for the sake of wrestling, but for the sake of a blessing. Don’t lose sight of why you are grappling with the hard questions. It is to become closer to Jesus, to get your blessing! And finally, Jacob’s example shows us that at the end of a struggle, the blessing isn’t mediocre, it is life changing! Walk changing! It helps us to realize more of our identity in Christ and our place in God’s plan!
In closing, I want to give you some practical ways to grapple. Here are 5 ways to grapple with your doubts and questions like a pro:
1. Read the Bible, not just one version. Compare different translations. Reading multiple translations may help you get a better idea of what the verse is trying to say.
2. Use a Bible reference source, like a Bible commentary or Bible dictionary. These resources have already done research into what the Bible is trying to say.
3. Pray about it. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand what you are reading, for revelation. Disclaimer: You may not get an immediate answer, so keep your eyes, ears, and heart open for the answer, because God does hear our prayers, and he will answer.
4. Talk to someone about it. Not just anyone, someone whom you know and have fellowship with. Someone who loves Jesus, and whom you trust. Preferably one of your iron sharpens iron friends.
5. Don’t give up until you have your answer. As humans we tend to put a time limit on things. We tend to feel anxious if we haven’t gotten clarity after one or two focused efforts, and then we put the question on the back burner… reasoning that “if I haven’t found an answer yet, it must not be important. If God wanted me to understand it, he would have made it easier.”
There you have it. Now get started! I can’t wait to hear about the amazing blessings and breakthroughs that are coming for you following your grapple! P.s.- your prayer requests and questions are always welcome! Just go to prayer request or contact page.
Love yous!
Amber
Food for thought (or conversation):
- What are some things you need to grapple with?
Additional Scripture:
- “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
John 14:16-17 - “The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD —”
Isaiah 11:2 - “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7
- ““As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.” Isaiah 55:8-9