Struggling With God

Jacob “struggled with God” (Gen 32:24-30) when he wrestled all night with the One who came to him. Job struggled with God and with understanding why suffering was happening in his life (Book of Job). Abraham struggled with God when he reasoned and bargained over the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 18:22-33). The prophet Habakkuk struggled with God as he asked if He would use a wicked nation to bring judgment on the people of God (Hab 1:6, 13). And Saul of Tarsus, before he became of Christian, struggled with God and was told, “…It is hard for you to kick against the goads” (Act 9:5).

It’s not wrong to struggle with God. Those who honestly look to God for answers are not rebuked in Scripture. Jacob wrestled for a blessing. Job tried to understand, but quit talking when he realized he wasn’t qualified to understand or choose. Abraham wanted the well-being of righteous people, consistent with God’s justice. Habakkuk looked for and waited for God’s answer. Saul stopped struggling and followed the Lord.

There’s struggling and there’s STRUGGLING. We must struggle to do right, not struggle NOT to do right. A seeker wants to know the truth, is open to it whatever it is, and accepts it when it is proven to be truth. A skeptic may ask the same question as the seeker, but wants to prove it is not true, is not open to the possibility of it being true, and won’t accept it as truth no matter what proof is given. It was skeptical struggling that brought about the rejection and crucifixion of Jesus. Nothing would convince them.

Remember who we are struggling with. God has infinite knowledge, strength, ability, and love – we do not. We are struggling and wrestling with God with very limited knowledge, strength, ability, and love. By definition of God and man, we must approach our struggles with God with humility and submission because there is a very high probability that we don’t really know what’s going on and that we are not being totally objective. When God spoked to Job and he was reminded that he wasn’t God, Job quit talking: “…I lay my hand over my mouth” (Job 40:4).

God’s allows us to struggle with Him, His word, and His will for us. But remember to struggle in faith, remembering He is God and we are not. His way is the way of truth and life – our way ultimately isn’t.  dd