I’ve always been someone to ask questions. Taking things at face value, accepting a simple yes or no, or moving past “because the Bible says so,” has always been a struggle for me. And questions aren’t necessarily a bad thing; they actually show a desire to learn and grow. But a few years ago, I found myself in a place where my questions led me into a season of doubt and wrestling with God.
Can I really trust God when so much in my life is uncertain?
Has God forgotten about me? Why do my prayers go unanswered?
Is God disappointed in me because I am wrestling with my faith?
Perhaps you also find yourself falling victim to similar doubts about God and faith. We aren’t alone. Since the beginning of time, wrestling with God has been a part of humanity’s story.
Back to the Beginning
Within the first few verses of Genesis, we experience the goodness and love of our Creator. We glimpse God’s triune nature, his profound affection for his creation, and his desire for relationship with humanity (Genesis 1). The marvelous workings of the Lord are on full display. He created man, Adam, out of dust, and then went on to create Eve from Adam’s rib. God placed them in the garden of Eden. There, they lived in God's presence and experienced the goodness of his creation. Can you even imagine being so close to God?
God placed very few restrictions on Adam and Eve, except for one: “And the Lord God commanded the man, 'You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die’” (Genesis 2:16–17 NIV). Many of us are familiar with what happens next.
While Adam and Eve didn’t vocalize their desire to know why they couldn’t eat from that particular tree, their actions tell us what was going on in their hearts. Genesis 3, one of the most heart-wrenching passages in Scripture, recounts the fall of humanity. Eve is in the garden, and a serpent, who was more crafty than any of the other wild animals in creation, approaches her, and he says, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1 NIV).
The interaction between the serpent and Eve continues:
The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.”
“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
—Genesis 3:2–5 NIV
Do you see the lie that is introduced to Eve: that God is withholding from her and that she deserves to be like God? At the serpent's powerful suggestion, Eve observed the fruit, noticed that it looked suitable for eating, and was enticed. Desiring to gain wisdom, she ate the fruit. She then gave some to her husband, and he ate some too. Consequently, sin entered the world (Genesis 3:6–7).
That’s the danger when we question God’s commands, his sovereignty, and his authority over our lives—we begin to wonder if we can “do it better” than he can. However, as we see in Genesis 3, we must be cautious in how we engage with our doubts and be aware of the dangers—the slippery slope where our questions lead us to act in a way that contradicts God’s Word. When we allow our doubts to push us toward assumptions about God, we might be tempted to walk away from our faith rather than lean in.
God created us with the ability to think critically; therefore, embracing curiosity and a healthy inquisitiveness isn’t inherently wrong. Doubt is not necessarily a moral issue; neither is our tendency to ask, “Why?” We don’t have to feel shame or judgment, but we can ask ourselves, “What are these thoughts, questions, or concerns here to tell me? What is God trying to teach or show me?” By engaging the source of our doubt and examining what Scripture has to say, we can better root ourselves in biblical truth and cling to what we know to be true: God’s character, his faithfulness, and the many ways we have seen him at work in our lives and the lives of others.
What Does Eve’s Sin Have to Do With My Doubt?
There are a few things we can take away from Eve’s encounter with the serpent. First, we are, by nature, sinful beings (Ephesians 2:3), prone to rebellion and continually fighting the urge to usurp God’s throne or have all the answers—to be like God. Satan planted the seed in Eve’s mind that God couldn’t be trusted, and almost immediately it took root. However, by knowing what God really said, we can use this truth to gird ourselves up and help us when we are tempted to act on our doubts in a negative way.
Second, to God be the glory in all things, good and bad. Even though we may think we want to figure out the Creator of the universe, we don’t really. While there are some attributes that we share with God, we wouldn't want a Creator who shares all the same qualities as his creation. God is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. When we view God in this way, we can wave the white flag of “having to figure it all out.” God is God, and we are not—and that’s a good thing.
Third, we see that it is natural to question God, to have thoughts that run counter to Christ. However, we have a choice; we can reject the enemy's lies—don’t give him a seat at your table.1 Embrace the truth that God’s ways and thoughts are not ours (Isaiah 55:8–9), his ways are good, even when we don’t understand or agree with them. Ultimately, God desires us to obediently trust that he knows what’s best for his children.
In God’s response to Adam and Eve, we see that God had a plan for his children from the very beginning (Genesis 3:16–19). And while there may be earthly consequences for our refusal to follow God’s command, God—out of love—makes a way for us to escape the eternal consequences (Genesis 3:15). By Jesus’s death and resurrection, through faith, we are made right with God for all eternity!
Even though we doubt God’s goodness, we question his commands and struggle to accept by faith that he is working all things for our good and his glory (Romans 8:28). God never leaves or forsakes us. There are no perfect answers, and we must acknowledge that no amount of knowledge can immunize us against doubt. Still, we have a choice: We can allow ourselves to question and doubt God’s instruction, or we can walk by faith and trust that God’s commands and desires for his children are good because that’s what he really says in his Word.
Reflection
Consider the interaction between the serpent and Eve, and how he invites confusion and chaos into her life when she begins to doubt God. What are some lies—or perhaps half-truths—that are influencing how you view God and his commandments?
How does knowing that God created us out of love, even though he knew we would rebel against him, help you combat those lies?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, you are Lord, Abba, Father, Creator of the heavens and the earth. Thank you for loving me unconditionally. Out of a Father’s love, you created me, inviting me to participate in the love you share with your Son, Jesus, knowing that our relationship would be broken because of my choice to rebel against you. When I find myself asking “Why?” help me to walk by faith, obey, and trust that you are for me, always. Thank you for being my Redeemer, Savior, and Friend. To you alone be the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Notes
- Louie Giglio, Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table (Thomas Nelson: 2021).
Photo Credit: Michael Marcagi
