“The more I’ve sought to know and understand God, the more I’m certain that doubts are essential to our maturity as believers. If we want a stronger faith, then we might be wise to allow our doubts to stand as we work through them instead of trying to chop them out of the way.” – Craig Groschel, Hope in the Dark
Recently I had a conversation with a friend who was sharing some current struggles. My friend said that she apologized to God for always coming to Him “whining” and eventually decided some of these things weren’t worth “complaining” about. She wasn’t going to give them any attention. After having this thought, my friend sensed the Holy Spirit speaking to her, “Oh so it’s too small for Me?”
Often, I feel like my friend does. I feel like I’ve been serving God for all these years so I shouldn’t still be asking for help or “complaining” in my prayers. I feel as if I should always remind myself of God’s word and who He is, instead of “complaining”. I feel perhaps I should be doing this instead of giving one more moment to my concerns. I feel like giving one more moment to my concerns means a lack of faith. I feel as though I shouldn’t be wrestling through “this” if I really had faith.
However, in those times when I feel like I’m “complaining” or feel like I’m giving more attention to my problems than I am to God’s power, I realize: it’s just a feeling!
Pastor Craig Groeschel’s statements about doubts opened my eyes to a new idea: my feelings don’t mean a weakness or a lack of faith. Doubts cause us to ask God questions. Questions deepen relationships. Questions help us work through things. Those things we “whine” to God about are open opportunities for us to draw closer to Him.
David demonstrates this throughout the Psalms. Many of his psalms begin with him “whining” about where he is or what his enemies are doing. He “complains” that he hasn’t been delivered. He expresses his frustrations in not seeing the fulfillment of God calling and anointing him King of Israel many years beforehand. But, then his “whining” gives way to him worshiping God. The “complaints” give way to a deeper understanding of God’s character. The questioning didn’t change God’s plan for David – in turn, it deepened their relationship. It’s why David has been recounted as a man after God’s own heart. Just like for David, our crying out to God eventually takes our focus off of self and puts it back on God.
1 Peter 5:7 tells us to, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.”
Truly there is nothing too small or too large for God to deal with. If it concerns you, it concerns Him. God doesn’t mind our “whining” and “complaining” – He’s big enough to handle it. The Holy Spirit was right to gently remind my friend that nothing is too small for Him to handle. We run into problems when we stop our prayers at the complaint. Don’t stop the conversation there – let your complaint be the opening to your prayer, and your prayer be the opening to the Lord speaking to you with His solution and comfort.
Don’t take your worries and doubts and chop them away from your prayers. Take them to God. Let them deepen your faith. Let the questions mature you as you receive God’s answers. And in the waiting, keep crying out to God for He does care about you. Remind yourself of who God is, and who you are in Him. Remind yourself that having questions, doubts, or worries isn’t a sin. It’s a relationship builder.
Pastor Kristi Hahn, Crossroads Community Church