While we know that Scripture is the ultimate authority on every life matter that we have ever or will ever face, each day is filled with hard questions that we must answer. While there are some things that we know, everyone still has questions. Today, we’re going to take a look at five tough life questions that God has provided the answers to in Scripture.
Can I Know God’s Will for My Life?
Psalms 25:4-5 (NIV)
Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
One of the most powerful components of discipleship is found in knowing God’s will for your life. However, the will of God is often one of the most confusing, mysterious topics discussed in Scripture. Or is it?
We know that God has some purposes for everyone who believes in Him. For instance, God wants the Church (the entire body of believers around the world) to love others. That is a universal purpose. Additionally, He wants the Church to care for those who cannot care for themselves.
However, many people still ask questions about God’s individual will for their lives. Before you were ever created, God had a purpose in mind for you. More importantly, He doesn’t want to hide that purpose from you.
One of the best ways to determine your God-ordained purpose is to evaluate your skills. God created you with certain aptitudes, and those skills were put in place for you to carry out your purpose. When you determine what you’re good at, start seeing how well your plans align with the Word of God. No part of God’s Word will ever contradict His will.
How Can I Handle Uncertainty?
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Humans have a natural tendency to want to know what is next. When we’re faced with uncertainty in our lives, a state of panic often sets in. While this doesn’t apply to some of the more mundane, less meaningful areas of life, when life presents us with something that we cannot fully comprehend, fear is a natural byproduct.
One of the most important components of faith is accepting the fact that we don’t always get to know what’s next. Early in the Book of Genesis, the Bible tells the story of a man named Abram, who would later be called Abraham. The Bible’s introduction to Abraham is a powerful story about taking the next step when you don’t know where the next step is going.
God called Abraham and told him to pack up, take his wife, and leave the life he had known for roughly 75 years. Abraham didn’t ask any questions, he just went. When you read about his story, you will notice that he didn’t get everything right along the way. However, God rewarded his faithfulness and his willingness to go, even when he didn’t know where he was going.
When we’re faced with uncertainty, it’s hard, but we must stand on our faith. When we know that God is for us, and that He has a beautiful plan for our lives, it’s easy to keep walking, even if you’re not sure where you’re going.
Does God Still Speak to People?
Job 33:14 (NIV)
For God does speak-now one way, now another-though no one perceives it.
Unfortunately, many people throw the phrase, “God told me” around pretty loosely. This has left plenty of people with skepticism when someone claims to have been told by God to do something. With that in mind, does God still speak to people today?
We read the stories about the men and women of the Bible who did incredible things after hearing from God. When we read those stories, we often feel a sense of envy. Perhaps you’ve thought, “I would be able to do so much more for God if I could hear Him the way people did in the Bible.” If so, you’re not alone.
To plainly answer the question, yes, God does still speak to people. One of the most powerful ways that God speaks to people is through His Word. Scripture is the God-breathed, Holy Spirit-inspired Word of God. When we read the Bible, we can hear God’s voice.
Additionally, there are times where God speaks audibly. Yes, He still speaks to people. If He did it in the Bible, He can do it today. He also speaks to people through others. The gifts of preaching, teaching, and prophecy are all tools that God uses to communicate with His people.
Why Do I Continue to Face Temptation?
Romans 7:15-18 (NIV)
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
“The devil made me do it!” The old saying has been applied to any number of sins over the years. When we do something that contradicts God’s Word, we typically try to look for something or someone to blame. While the Bible is clear about the fact that Satan is a tempter, the decision to sin is ours.
Paul, the man who God used to plant countless churches across the world, and the man who wrote most of the New Testament, struggled with sin. He acknowledged it in his letter to the Roman Christians.
We struggle with sin because we are in our fleshly bodies, and the flesh constantly wars against the spirit. While we know in our souls what God wants for us, our flesh prompts us to please it. The end result is sin.
Fortunately, we do not have to live in bondage to the pleasures of the flesh. Instead, we can repent, be forgiven, and take advantage of a fresh start.
Does God Only Help Those Who Help Themselves?
Jeremiah 17:5 (NIV)
This is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord.”
The false gospel of self-reliance is one of the most dangerous ideas in the Church world today. While God doesn’t expect us to sit idly by while we ask Him for help, this old saying is simply not found in Scripture. So, how do we strike the balance?
There are times where we must put our faith into action. For instance, if you’re unemployed, you likely ask God to help you with your finances. He will certainly do that, but He also wants you to start looking for jobs. That isn’t a case of trusting yourself to fix the issue, but it is an example of combining faith and action the way that James said to in his epistle.
God loves to bless His people, and there is nothing we can do to incentivize Him to bless us. However, when we fully rely on God and have our hearts turned towards Him, we can see the doors that He is opening for us.
A Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for providing me with the answers to life’s most difficult questions. Help me to seek out Your answers in Your Word when I’m faced with doubt and questions. In Christ’s name, Amen.