Direct Your Difficult Questions to God
At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Mark 15:33-34 NLT
In chapter 15 of the Gospel of Mark, we witness the culminating moment of human redemption, where our Lord Jesus Christ faces judgment before Pilate, the mockery of the Roman soldiers, and the unspeakable pain of the crucifixion. In the midst of the torment, the earth is covered in a dense darkness at noon, symbolizing not only the judgment on the sin that Jesus bore in our place, but also the weight of the most heartbreaking suffering and loneliness. In that instant of deep affliction, the Master teaches us a vital truth for the life of every believer: in the darkest seasons of greatest confusion and pain on this earth, the right place to pour out our cry and our most sincere doubts will always be the presence of the heavenly Father.
- Recognize the darkness of crises The darkness that covered the earth represents those painful and unexpected seasons we all face in this fallen world: the loss of a beloved family member, the blow of an illness, a relational breakdown, or a sudden financial bankruptcy. In the midst of those dark hours, it is completely natural for questions to arise and for the soul to be troubled, but we must remember that God is neither frightened nor angered by our vulnerability and confusion.
- Cry out directly to the Father and not to men Jesus did not direct His pain or His questions to the soldiers who whipped Him, nor to the mocking crowd, nor to His disciples who had fled; He lifted His voice directly to God. We frequently make the mistake of venting our complaints and frustrations to people who cannot help us or who give us superficial advice that aggravates the wound. We must learn to go first on our knees to the Creator, who is the only one who truly understands the depth of our pain.
- Trust that apparent silence does not mean absence Although Jesus expressed the cry of Psalm 22 feeling forsaken while bearing the guilt of humanity, God’s sovereign plan was still operating in perfect victory. Sometimes we will feel that heaven is silent and that we are alone facing conflict, but divine silence never means abandonment; God continues weaving His purpose even when our natural senses cannot perceive His hand of power.
- Understand the cost of our access to the presence of God Immediately after the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, forever opening the way to the presence of the Lord. Christ’s suffering eliminated the separation between man and God; thanks to His perfect surrender, today we have total freedom to come before the throne of grace to find timely help in every need and tribulation.
Do not allow daily crises, injustices, or dark valleys to lead you into isolation, bitterness, or resentment against life. When circumstances make no sense to your understanding and you feel exhausted, do not look for empty answers in the opinions of this world; run confidently to the presence of your heavenly Father and pour out your heart before Him. Rest in the fact that God has absolute control of your story and that, after every night of trial, His inexhaustible faithfulness will bring light, restoration, and eternal victory to your life and to your home.
At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Mark 15:33-34 NLT
Think About It:
Who do you go to first when you face a crisis or a painful situation: to men or to the presence of God?
Are there difficult questions or heavy burdens in your heart that you need to sincerely pour out today before your heavenly Father?
Set aside a moment of prayer to surrender your doubts and pains to the Lord, resting in the assurance that He will never abandon you.