Austin's Blog

When walking through suffering and grief, you are often tempted to believe the worst about God. Countless saints and prophets have accused God of somehow falling short in His actions or character. For example, Habakkuk writes in chapter one of his oracle,

“O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you ‘Violence!’ and you will not save? Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted.”

He asks where God is, why He isn’t doing anything about rampant evil and suffering, why the Word is paralyzed, and why the righteous aren’t being protected. He accuses God of somehow not fulfilling His promises or living up to His own word.

I’m encouraged by two realities when I reflect on this passage.

First, Habakkuk takes his issues directly to God. He says it to His face, in a way. Just like Job, it is commendable to bring your baggage—and even your accusations—directly to God in prayer. Clint Watkins agrees, saying:

“Suffering may cause you to entertain dark questions about the Lord. You might even say foolish things that you will one day regret and repent of. But God’s compassion does not depend on your ability to struggle perfectly. Fight against grumbling by continuing to turn to the Lord. Bring him your complaints, your sorrows, your questions—and he will embrace you with empathy. Wrestle with him through pain, protest, petition, and praise. Tell your trouble to God. And if you cross the line, remember the cross. God covers your groans in grace.”

Instead of merely talking about God and His seemingly contradictory ways, we can talk directly to God about them.

Second, in the end, my feelings, perceptions, and opinions are just that—they are mine alone. They often don’t accurately describe reality. I’m the limited one. I’m the fickle one. I’m the frail one. I’m the sinful one. I’m the ignorant one. I’m the dependent one. I’m the one who only dimly sees in a mirror. He is God; my feelings are not.

Puritan Samuel Rutherford wisely remarks, “Your heart is not the compass Christ sails by. He will give you leave to sing as you please, but he will not dance to your tune. It is not referred to you and your thoughts, what Christ will do with the charters betwixt you and him. Your own misbelief has torn them, but he has the principle in heaven with himself. Your thoughts are no parts of the new covenant; dreams change not Christ.”

We walk by faith, not by sight—and part of walking by faith is fixing our eyes on facts, not our feelings, however strong they may be.