Jesus, I am sorry for questioning you.

Confusion starts as single gust of wind but then spirals into a tornado quicker than you could ever imagine. Doubt is one wave crashing into the shore, but then rapidly becomes a hurricane. When one of them or both of them enter into our lives the only thing they bring about is destruction. But at the center of both that tornado and hurricane are simply unanswered questions.

Car crashes, gravesides, addiction, miscarriages, cancer… the list could go on on. In this life it in inevitable at one point or another we will stare face to face with something that leaves us with questions we never thought we would have to ask. It is when we don’t find the answers to those questions that doubt and confusion take a seat on our hearts and they sit back and watch the destruction let loose.

And for those of who have been there, we can all agree that everyone seems to know the answers you are searching for, but more than you wish for answers you wish people would just for a lack of better words, shut up.

Job gets it.

[Job 16:1-4] 

If you were in my shoes:

I’ve had all I can take of your talk.
What a bunch of miserable comforters!
Is there no end to your windbag speeches?
What’s your problem that you go on and on like this?
If you were in my shoes,
I could talk just like you.
I could put together a terrific harangue
and really let you have it.

I am just going to pause and say an amen real quick to all of what Job just said.

Let me give you a little background info for where we are at right now with Job. Most of us know the story of Job. Here in chapter 16 Job is having a conversation with Eliphaz and Temaninte. Eliphaz and Temaninte are trying to make sense of Job’s hardships for Him. But like we read above Job gets to the point where he just can’t take it anymore. He is tired of the long speeches and all their talk. It is when he gets to this point that Job is honest in a way most of would never be.

[Job 16: 12-16]

All was well with me, but he shattered me;

He seized me by the neck and crushed me.
He has made me his target;
his archers surround me.
Without pity, he pierces my kidneys
and spills my gall on the ground.

Again and again he bursts upon me;
he rushes at me like a warrior.

I have sewed sackcloth over my skin
and buried my brow in the dust.
My face is red with weeping;
dark shadows ring my eyes….

Maybe you have been there. Maybe you have felt shattered, or crushed. Maybe you have felt like you had a target on you and everything was aiming straight at you. Maybe your face has been red because of weeping.

Job chapters 16-37 are filled with complaints, with questions, with confusion, and with doubt. Job doesn’t hold anything back… but “finally, God answered Job from the eye of a violent storm.” (Job 38:1)

The Lord tells Job it is His turn to ask the question. (Job 38:3)

[Job 38: 4-11]

Where were you when I created the earth?

Tell me, since you know so much!
Who decided on its size? Certainly you’ll know that!
Who came up with the blueprints and measurements?
How was its foundation poured,
and who set the cornerstone,
While the morning stars sang in chorus
and all the angels shouted praise?
And who took charge of the ocean

when it gushed forth like a baby from the womb?
That was me! I wrapped it in soft clouds,
and tucked it in safely at night.

Jesus shows Job that He was listening to every cry that ever left his mouth. He shows him that He has heard all his questions. Jesus is saying to Job that he needs to stop for a moment and look at all that He has already done and remember all that He is able to do and ask himself can he do any of that.

But Jesus is also telling us that today.

He wants us to stop and look at all that He has done and be reminded of all that He is able to do.

The question most time is “how could God let this happen?”

But I think the real question today is “how could we question a God that is so much greater than ourselves?”

[Job 42:1-6]

I’m convinced: You can do anything and everything.

Nothing and no one can upset your plans.
You asked, ‘Who is this muddying the water,
ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my purposes?’
I admit it. I was the one. I babbled on about things far beyond me,
made small talk about wonders way over my head.
You told me, ‘Listen, and let me do the talking.
Let me ask the questions. You give the answers.’
I admit I once lived by rumors of you;
now I have it all firsthand—from my own eyes and ears!
I’m sorry—forgive me. I’ll never do that again, I promise!

Job admits his stupidity in questioning Jesus. He realizes he spoke of things that were far beyond his knowledge, and then he repents.

Most of the time our questions are things that even if Jesus answered we would still not understand because His ways are higher than ours. His ways are incomprehensible

How different would our lives look if we realized when we question Jesus we are the ones in the wrong, not Him.

I am giving you and me full permission to be as honest as Job was and to ask as many questions that you need to ask, but I am challenging us to not let our hearts stay in that place.

Let’s learn from Job that you can be shattered, crushed, and your eyes can be red with weeping. You can be in a place that has your life screaming questions at Jesus, but you can move back to the place of knowing He can do anything and everything, and knowing nothing and no one can upset His plans.

But Job only got there through repentance.

Have your tornado of confusion.

Have your hurricane of doubt.

Ask your questions.

But then repent.