Pain, Peace, Prayer, Trust, Words of Endurance

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God,
who gives generously to all without finding fault,
and it will be given to him.
JAMES 1:5

When I found myself in the throes of darkness I had many questions that I wanted to ask God. I was young, naïve and afraid – I was trudging through an unexpected, unfamiliar territory – the valley of suffering.

I felt troubled and confused. I didn’t know why we were suffering. Others told us that as Christians we should not be suffering. We were told we were suffering because we had sin in our lives and that we lacked faith. Like Job, I wanted an audience with God – I wanted answers to my questions.

“But I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God.”
JOB 13:3 (WORDS OF JOB)

At the same time, my husband, Dave, had a remarkable peace. For the most part, he accepted what was happening to him and had very little need to ask why? I asked myself why I could not be like him. I felt shame.

To make matters worse, there were those who scolded me saying, “Jan Dravecky who are you to question God?” I felt guilty.

But Praise God I turned to His Word …

O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more.
How gracious he will be when you cry for help!
As soon as he hears, he will answer you.
ISAIAH 30:19

The Holy Spirit led me to the Psalms. It was in the Psalms that I saw that no one asked more questions of God than King David, a man after God’s own heart. This gave me the freedom to ask whatever was on my heart.

My questions led me on a path of discovery that forever changed my life and deepened my faith. Like a tree in drought, I was forced to sink my roots down deep to find water. I found that living water in the Word of God.

Whether you are in a place of peace like my husband, Dave, or in a place of confusion and questioning as I was – please know that neither is right or wrong. But we who want that audience with God can take comfort in knowing that we have a Heavenly Father who invites us to come to Him with all of our questions.

“Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.”
MATTHEW 7:7 (Words of Jesus)

On the journey with you,
Jan Dravecky