Questions; Answered

It can be hard to feel God in your life. Oftentimes, I catch myself wondering whether God exists at all - even on my best days, I can dismiss Him as someone who is there in everyday life.

This does not mean I do not believe in God nor does it make me a bad Christian. In fact, it is the doubts we have about God's ways that connect us deeper with Him, as we discover that despite the constant questions, in God, there is always a solution.

The following are questions I frequently ask myself and the answers I found in both the Bible, prayer, and others.

1. 'Why won't God show himself to me, so I know once and for all that He is real?'

As Christians, we need faith. If God Himself showed us proof of everything, we would not be proving anything to Him. All our values and morals would be artificial and all for our own gain. We would not devotedly follow his commands, knowing the tests he has put us through were all to strengthen our faith and commitment.

Furthermore, we have been told of God's existence. In the Bible, in nature, and in Christians throughout history who spread the Word of God. Of the miracles that God has performed on Earth.

People seem to think that if they had been told in hindsight that something is true, they would never have disobeyed or they would always have believed. This isn't true. God says that even when Jesus returns, there will be people who do not believe in His words. We do not disbelieve in God because He has not shown Himself, we disbelieve in God because we are not willing to trust in His word. We are Christians because we know that God is more than just believing that He is real, but that it is also following Him. Believing in the righteousness of his teachings.

2. 'Am I, someone who has always been taught about God, really good enough to be Christian?

This question is something that nags at me quite often. It wasn't by my own faithful merits that I became a Christian, I just happened upon God because of who my family is. However, this is not how the Bible stands on the matter.

No matter your upbringing, if you have decided to follow God, that is your decision. All of us, at some points in our lives, will come across a crossroads. On one side is God, on the other is man.

In Ephesians 2:8-9, it says:

'For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.'

God brought us to Christianity. He created us in the womb. No one is as they are because of luck, but they were blessed by the grace of God. We aren't better than others because we are Christians, because we are only Christians because of the goodness of God.

3. 'Do I really love God, or do I just love what He has done for me?'

Parents, ideally, help their children; comfort them when in need and are their confidants. They do not ask for anything in return. We rely on them and love them. As we get older, we recognise what they have done for us. We do things for them, we help them. Our love for them was always strong, but now we are just actively showing it in works for them.

It is the same with God. As children of God, we may take His love for granted. We may ask of Him much and give very little. But, as our faith matures, we can learn to thank God for His acts of love and follow his commandments. You cannot measure how much someone loves you by how much effort they put into you. Love is a deeper, ingrained feeling. It is the biggest thing that separates us from creatures. Love is more than a duty of care towards another human.

As children, we may first take our parents' love for granted. But as we mature, we can begin to recognise their acts of love and give our own in return.

It is the same with God.

4. 'If God was real, how come he doesn’t stop all the misery in the world?'

God did not create sin. Man brought sin into the world. Since then, it has been corrupted with hatred, selfishness and immorality. We have made it this way. Our weak ignorance has put iniquity onto the innocent. Do not blame this on God. God has promised an end to the suffering, so that all who know the truth will be saved.

Look at Luke 16:19-32, the parable of the Lazarus and the rich man. Although Lazarus suffered much on earth, he was rewarded in heaven.

In a lifetime, we may suffer greatly. But, in death, in our eternal life, all of our suffering will be reconciled with abundant joy.

5. There’s so much proof of evolution, but what proof is there of God?

Evolution is just a theory. It will always be a theory.

Some ideas in evolution may be true, like the ability to adapt to your environment (to a point), but that’s the brilliance of it. Mixing truth with lies and adding scientific words to make it sound accurate. Evolution always relates back to something. The chain needs to start somewhere. Something cannot be made out of nothing, that has always been abundantly clear in science. So then, how did evolution begin? And why? There is no answer. God, on the other hand, has an answer. He who is beyond creation and beyond time created the universe. He created man so that we could have a relationship with Him.

Think about it like this: evolution was an idea made up less than 200 years ago. God has always been an idea. He has no origin.

As C.S. Lewis said, people seem to think that modern science has officially made obsolete the idea of creation. This could not be further from the truth. God is the answer to the science we have uncovered. He is the laws of nature. He created them. That is why He can perform miracles; for He who created nature understands its workings and can work it to His will.

Furthermore, the Bible can never be made obsolete because it is like maths. No matter new science, mathematical algorithms will always work. The Bible's stories and parables still work as messages in our own lives.

These are my answers to questions I am constantly asking. They may not fully resonate with you, but that's ok. If there is more you would like to add, feel free to reply in the comments section.