5 Questions to Ask God in Difficult Times

Life is full of routes to take, including how you choose to go navigate through difficult situations. Unfortunately, a common knee-jerk reaction when things go awry is to become bitter, resentful, or even question the true goodness of God. When storms in life come, and they will, consider taking the opportunity of asking God questions concerning the bigger picture. Instead of assuming the worst of Him, seek the true heart of the Lord in prayer and see that the story can hold a greater purpose than meets the eye. You have the option of cultivating a deeper relationship with God through trying times and perhaps find He can use difficulties for beautiful revelations and destinations.

Question 1: What are You Teaching Me?

One of the most powerful approaches to a testing circumstance is to inquire of the Lord what He is teaching you through a situation. Remember that God is not careless or capricious in what He allows, He always has a purpose. Rest in the heart of Matthew 7:8-9,

“Or what person is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf of bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? ¹¹ So if you, despite being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:8-9

God truly does love you and when you receive Christ as your Lord and Savior you become a son or daughter of the Most High God. Know that although the situation you are dealing with may seem like a punishment, God may be permitting this to teach you something far greater than you could even possibly imagine. Know that whatever He is instilling in you through this situation could be the kindest way possible that you could learn such a lesson. When you decide to glean wisdom and knowledge from such events in life you have the gift of experience, understanding, and management skills when other storms eventually come. Trials in life are not ones we should blame God for but instead ask Him what can be used as an asset for in the time to come. Remember as well that He may use these things to impact those around you as well. Your testimony has the potential to be used to speak to others directly or indirectly. Consider the stories we gain encouragement from in the Bible are that of regular men and women who learned from God through a journey. We do not know these men or women personally, but through their testimonies we draw inspiration in our own faith walks. You never know what God can do through teaching through situation.

Question 2: How is God’s Character Being Revealed?

One day when I was on a drive with God, I asked Him to share more with me about His character. Instead of asking for something, instead of praying for someone else, or instead of inquiring of things that surround my own life I wanted to know more about Him, and His response to me was captivating. In paraphrase, He replied that we come to know His character through experiences lived out and carried out with Him. It seems so simple, but it holds such a profound wealth within when we invite God into each situation that unfolds. Something to ask God when processing hardships is how is an area of His character, His heart, or His authority going to be revealed in this situation?

We see throughout scripture God use or even Author occurrences in which He is revealed even more. In Exodus 7:13 we see God purposely move the situation to be harder for a greater reason,

“Yet Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had said.” Exodus 7:13

God had in mind a higher purpose than just releasing His people from slavery in Egypt, He wanted to reveal to the Israelites more of Himself. Because Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, he made it harder for the Israelites to leave. Even after he acquiesced and they were free to go, he sent his army after them. We see in Exodus 14:10-14 the people question God,

“As Pharaoh approached, the sons of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were coming after them, and they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord. ¹¹ Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? ¹² Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness!” ¹³ But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will perform for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again, ever. ¹⁴ The Lord will fight for you, while you keep silent.” Exodus 14:10-14

How often do we behave just like the Israelites? We proclaim that we know His nature, we sing songs about His goodness in Church, but then when we do not see a way out with our natural logic, reasoning, and perspectives we swiftly accuse Him of the worst. What if instead of taking the first exit to anger we instead asked what He seeks to reveal to us through this? Perhaps His glory will be revealed, just as it was to the Israelites that day at the banks of the Red Sea, or perhaps you will find that even if the worst-case scenario unfolds, He is still present. You may lose every friend, confidant, and alliance you have in this world, yet He will remain present with you. Allow the Lord the space to speak and reveal to You more of Who He is, Who He has been, and Who He will be as the Great I AM. Never underestimate the invaluable gift of knowing God better for His character through a such a time as this.

Question 3: What Fruit of the Spirit is being Cultivated?

It is often through difficulties that we can also see a Fruit of the Spirit can be cultivated or diminished depending on the mindset we choose to take. You have two roads in which you can walk down, one where a fruit of the spirit can become deeply rooted, nourished, pruned when necessary, and yield a harvest or to allow the seed to blow away in the wind. Galatians 5:22-23 offers the fruits of the Spirit as,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

In your quiet time with God ask Him what specific fruit or fruits He is seeking to grow in you and then ask what your role is to help feed that seed so that it may prosper. Remember that what is happening in your life is not happening to you, but rather, is happening for you. Allow this the chance to grow your garden, not plunder your potential harvest.

Question 4: Who do You Say I Am, Lord?

In a tender and heartfelt story songwriter, Johnathan David Hesler offered a story of a time in which he spoke life into his daughter, Haven, in who she really was. In a blog post he offered to remember that, “Identity is discovered through the voice we listen to. We have all been created to be defined by a Father’s voice. Every girl is made to hear the words, “You are beautiful,” and every boy is designed to hear the words, “Well done!” This important remember challenges us to ask God the pivotal question, “Who do You say I am, Lord?”

The response of the Lord may be immediate, or it may come in a time where He peels back layer by layer more of how He sees you and more of who He made and crafted you to be by His definition, not the world’s. Suffering can at times skew one’s self-perception or even open questions of worth to arise, which makes seeking God’s view is of vital importance. Do not allow the enemy to have a foothold or a voice in your life, instead remind yourself daily of what He says is true.

Question 5: What is the Bigger Story?

A final question is to inquire what the bigger story is at hand. He may or may not reveal His ultimate plans, but you can rest assured that He has something in mind far greater than you could even contemplate for each and every situation. We see this promised through two very key verses in the Bible,

^“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

And

““For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
⁹ “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

Through both verses we can hold firmly to the hope that He has a bigger purpose than what we can see and know in this present moment in time. John Piper puts it like this, “God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, and you may be aware of three of them.” When we ask God what is happening in the bigger story, we may be shocked to realize that this present moment is a steppingstone towards a journey far bigger than this position, this instance, or this storm. God is doing more than meets the eye, but we must trust Him.

Final Encouragements:

The next time you find yourself in a position where everything seems so bleak, don’t fall into the trap of fear. Sit with the One Who holds all of time, all of creation, and all your life. Ask these questions and journal the answers to serve as a written reminder of His response to your heart. Believe that He is a good, faithful, and kind Father Who can help you not merely survive this, but to thrive and testify of the goodness of God.

Sources:

NASB

https://www.jonathanhelser.com/blog/2018/9/11/your-thoughts-define-me