Asking questions. Something we all do.
I’ve learned something over the years, however: People don’t like to be questioned. When we question others, we display a huge lack of trust in their knowledge, abilities, experiences, etc., and showing lack of faith in someone sends them the clear message that they don’t measure up in our eyes.
I don’t blame people for not liking it when I question them, for I don’t particularly like being questioned either. When someone comes to me asking why I do or say what I do and say, my tendency is to get–well–a bit defensive!
It has taken a bit of self-study, but I’ve come to realize that the defensiveness that arises whenever I’m questioned is rooted, most of the time, in insecurity. Maybe I’m feeling insecure about a decision, or maybe I’m feeling that my opinion isn’t good enough, that I don’t have enough knowledge, enough experience to be making decisions and speaking forth opinions. Maybe I’m doubting the decision in the first place. Maybe I’m just parroting something that someone else has said without giving it proper thought, and I don’t want others to discover that I haven’t thought it through completely.
Another hidden message given when we question others is that of accusation. When we are questioned, we actually feel accused!
The funny thing is that although most people hate being questions, we all tend to spend plenty of time questioning others. I am no different. Anytime I feel that what is said, or the decision that has been made, doesn’t match up to my own interpretation, my own experiences or my own wishes, I tend to question!
This brings up a very interesting question: Is it right to question God? I mean, we are told to trustGod, and doesn’t questioning Him clearly show a lack of faith?
Unlike us, God doesn’t appear to mind being questioned. We see this clearly in the tiny book of Habakkuk. Habakkuk the prophet, who likely lived some time prior to the Babylonian invasion, seems to have nothing but questions for God: “How long, O Lord, must I call for help?… Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery?” (Hab. 1:2a,3a NLT)
In fact, Habakkuk takes this even one tiny step farther by openly accusing God: “…But you do not listen! ‘Violence is everywhere!’ I cry, but you do not come to save.” (Hab. 1:2b NLT)
Does God retort with fire and brimstone? Is there a lightning bolt thrown down from the sky to forever silence this annoying, accusatory prophet?
Interestingly, there is not. You see, God has no reason to feel insecure. Unlike humankind, He is all wise, all knowing, all powerful: “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?’ For from him and through him and to him are all things.” (Rom. 11:33-36 ESV). When God does something, there is absolutely no room for error, and because He has no reason to feel insecure, His response to Habakkuk’s questions–and his accusations!–is one of love:“The Lord replied, ‘Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it…'” (Hab. 1:5 NLT). Not only does God not send down those lightning bolts, but He prepares the way to actually reveal more information to this belligerent prophet.
Thus we see that God is absolutely okay with our questions, and in His love, He uses our questioning minds to reveal more of Himself through our situations!
Want to know “why”?
Ask the God of ultimate wisdom and ultimate good! Just like He responded in love to Habakkuk of old, He is also anxious to reveal more of Himself to you as well!
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart, Speech-Language Pathologist, mother of two, Author — “Aboard God’s Train — A Journey With God Through the Valley of Cancer”, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, andScriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, withAnswers2Prayer Ministries. Follow Lyn on Twitter @lynchaffart.