Why did God allow evil into the world?

Can I really trust the Bible?

Why are there so many differing opinions and denominations among Christians?

Why did God allow this bad thing to happen to me/my loved one?

Is what I was taught really the truth?

Anyone can have questions, whether you’re a new believer or someone raised in the church. And sometimes those questions are scary. Sometimes we’re even afraid to ask them—whether because we’re worried about judgement or that we won’t like the answers we get.

Are these questions wrong? Is it okay to ask God tough questions or to wonder about what you’ve been taught?

No, it’s not wrong to ask. Yes, your questions are welcome, even the hard ones.

Jesus said,

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)

God encourages questions! He already knows what’s in your heart, but He wants you to share your concerns with Him anyway. He will not be angry with us for pursuing answers from Him. He told us to do so! Hebrews says He “rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). We just need to make sure we ask honestly and in good faith, seeking the truth and willing to believe it.

It’s far better to ask than to wonder in silence. God wants our whole, thinking, feeling mind. How can we give Him that without “earnestly seeking” answers to the questions gnawing at us? We risk stunting our growth if we don’t allow ourselves room to question what we believe.

If truth is truth, it should be able to withstand any questions you can throw at it. However, we need to question in the right way—looking for the truth, not just evidence to support what we want to be true. Read the Bible and seek to truly understand it for yourself. Seek out the council of someone you trust who has had experiences similar to yours or who might know more about an issue. Share your concerns with God and ask for wisdom in prayer. If we do this, questions are far more likely to strengthen faith rather than weaken it.

So don’t fear questions! Be brave in your search for truth! Trust that God is good and that He can stand up to your questioning. And He loves you enough to be patient with you as you earnestly seek Him.

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Author Hannah Rau is a Michigan-based writer and writing tutor. Hannah earned degrees in English and rhetoric and minored in Bible. She enjoys exploring literature, media, and culture through the lens of her Christian faith. And drinking coffee. Lots of coffee.