Where Are The Answers: Dealing With Impossible Questions

We all have impossible questions that face us in our lives. Some of them come about when people we love do things that are wrong. Some of them come about when illness, accidents, or other unexpected crises arise. Some of them come about because of job loss or relationships that end unhappily. We have questions that cannot be answered in black-and-white terms with "yes or no" answers. We feel uncertain, confused, scared and maybe angry. How do we deal with these impossible questions? Where do we find the answers?

Truth is, some of those questions will never get complete answers until we reach heaven and "know fully" (1 Cor. 13:12). We may receive partial answers, over a period of time, from many sources. Like a puzzle that we keep adding pieces to, the answer may begin to hint at full formation, but still be missing some essential parts.

How do we deal with uncertainty and pain and panic in the meantime, while those puzzle pieces are being assembled?

A simple acrostic, spelling out the word FAITH, may help with impossible questions:

Follow Certain Truths Rather Than Uncertain Conjectures

It is easy, during a crisis, to "run away" with opinions and Facebook and Twitter posts. Fear takes over and leads the charge. But "perfect love casts out all fear" (1 John 4:18) Go with what you know to be right (1 Cor. 13:13). Practice faith ((Prov. 3:5,6; Heb. 11:1,6); hope (Rom. 5:5) and love (1 John 4:20,21).

Ask open-ended questions of God

Too often our prayers are nothing more than thinly disguised requests for God to "rubber stamp" our own agenda. Learn a lesson from good King Hezekiah of Judah, who was faced with a terrible threat from Sennacherib, king of Assyria. Rather than having his military leaders draw up a defensive plan and put it before God for His "divine rubber stamp of approval", Hezekiah took the threatening letter into God's presence and spread it out before Him, asking God what His plan was! The answer God gave was quite unexpected and brought overwhelming victory to the Jewish people. Read the story in 2 Kings 19. Meditate on Hezekiah's response to threatening news in 2 Kings 19:14.

Instruction from wise counselors is needed

Even those with a great deal of knowledge and skill still need to consult wise counselors. When the Apostle Paul was a new convert, he had a great deal of knowledge, zeal and persuasive power. He was so persuasive in his arguments with the Greek Jews about Jesus' true identity as the Messiah that they put out a contract on Paul's life! Wise counselors prevailed. It was not young Paul's time to die! The apostles in charge of the Jerusalem church had Paul board a ship for his hometown of Tarsus where he had time to mature in his faith and get away from the death threats. Read the whole story in Acts 9. 

Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, had much to say about seeking good, solid, wise counsel. Read a sampling of his advice in Prov. 12:15, Prov. 13:10 and Prov. 19:20.

Truth comes from knowing God's character, not having all the answers

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Neither are your ways My ways," declares the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways,

And my thoughts than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55:8,9 (New American Standard Version)

"The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going, so is every one who is born of the Spirit." John 3:8 (New American Standard Version)

God can take unexpected turns. Those who are open to listening to God and understand His character of love will be able to change their course when God is the One leading.

Read about the Apostle Peter and his 180-degree turn on the issues of Gentiles becoming part of God's family and of unclean meat being acceptable to eat. The story is found in Acts 10. Peter would not have been able to make these complete turnarounds in his practices if he did not understand God's character of love for all mankind and the sacrifice of Jesus, God's only Son, to forgive all people of their sins.

Have joy in the process!

Nothing can weigh a person down more quickly than unresolved emotional issues. The "what if's" and "if only's" and "it's not fair" questions will keep people awake at night and give them headaches during the day. We simply will never have all the answers. Life cannot be erased and lived over again. We must live with the consequences of our choices and the consequences of other people's choices that affect us. And we must live in a fallen world where young, healthy people die of disease or are killed in accidents. There are no easy answers to the questions that arise from difficult circumstances.

Does God want me to be happy? If He does, then why did my child die...my wife leave me...my job disappear in a downsizing...my brother get addicted to drugs.... 

It is a fact that the circumstances of our lives will not always be happy. We will make some of our own misery, other people will create chaos around us, and natural disasters and disease will take their toll. We won't always be fully compensated financially in a class action lawsuit or vindicated in front of those who judged us. We will have to find our way to "go on" anyway. 

God has provided a beautiful way to "keep going": in the full, unbridled joy of His presence, which promises that all will be made right "someday". In the meantime, rest in the joy of God's friendship and presence:

"I have set the Lord continually before me;

Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;

My flesh also will dwell securely.

Thou wilt make known to me the path of life;

In Thy presence is fulness of joy;

In Thy right hand there are pleasures forever."

Psalm 16:8,9,11 (New American Standard Version)