This article is based on Pastor Adrian Rogers' message, How to Stand when You Don’t Understand.
As you go through life, there will be times when you are broken, and confused, and you ask God, “Why?” and Heaven is absolutely silent.
How do you stand when you don't understand?
Here is one of the most perplexing commands in God’s Word:
…In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
To give thanks for some things—food, health, family, a new baby, a new job—is no difficulty.
But this Scripture says in everything. Evil? Pain? Divorce? Apostasy? Sickness? This Scripture almost seems to mock us. The key is that 1 Thessalonians 5:18 does not say for everything, but to give thanks in everything.
For how to stand—and praise—when you do not understand, there are many examples in the Bible.
Many people know the story of Joseph being sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, his rise to power in the house of Potiphar, his wrongful imprisonment and faithfulness in prison, and his service and leadership to the entire nation of Egypt at the right hand of Pharaoh.
Joseph remained faithful to God all his life. In fact, his parting words to his descendants may have been the greatest mark of all for this champion of faith.
By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones (Hebrews 11:22).
He was not afraid to die, and he had such faith that God’s promise to deliver Israel would be kept (see Genesis 15:13-14) that he made his descendants promise to carry out his bones with them.
Joseph was looking forward to the Promised Land. He was looking forward to the Messiah. Today we look back at the first coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and toward His Second Coming, and to the Promised Land of Heaven.
And Joseph said to his brethren, “I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob” (Genesis 50:24).
Jacob believed the deliverance would be by God’s hand.
Delay did not shake Joseph’s faith. He was not panicked. Scripture tells of him on his deathbed, holding his grandchildren on his knees. He speaks with a ring of certainty and victory in his heart.
Rather than building a great pyramid for his bones in Egypt, he built a monument of faith by believing in God.
Gideon was not the most faithful man when his story began in the Book of Judges. His nation was in trouble because of its own sin, and Gideon’s focus was distorted. Instead of looking ahead in faith, he was asking, “Why haven’t you shown up, Lord?” (See Judges 6:13.)
But one day, the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” (Judges 6:14)
Gideon doubted. He made excuses. “My family is poor and unimportant. Not only that, I am the least important person in my family!” Gideon believed he was unusable, but God knew otherwise.
And the LORD said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man” (Judges 6:16).
Gideon listened and believed. He made an end to excuses.
Through the weak and insecure Gideon, the sovereign all-powerful God destroyed the altar of the false god Baal and defeated the Midianites.
Job’s story of victory begins as a tragedy.
There was a scene in Heaven…
Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” (Job 1:8).
Satan accused Job of loving God only because God had blessed him. (See Job 1:9-11.) But God said, “Not so. And I will prove it.”
And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD (Job 1:12).
Life caved in on Job. (Read Job 1:13-21.) He lost his wealth, his family, his health. He had no reason, no way to understand why.
It got so bad that, “Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!’” (Job 2:9). That is exactly what Satan was trying to get him to do. But Job listened to God.
But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips (Job 2:10)
Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause” (Job 2:3).
One thing that might happen when trouble comes—when your child gets hit by a car, when you get cancer, when you lose your job—is that you might ask, “What did I do wrong?” Maybe you did do something wrong. But maybe you didn’t.
Yet: “In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong” (Job 1:22).
Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:20-21).
Underline those verses in your Bible. You will need them.
God never answered one of Job's questions. He revealed Himself to Job.
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding” (Job 38:1-4).
God is the Creator. He can do whatever He wants.
What about when you are faithful and the results are unexpected? You have not failed God, but your prayers are unanswered? The child you asked for does not come? Or the sick loved one does not recover?
Paul addresses those for whom faith seems to fail.
Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment….And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us (Hebrews 11:35b-36,40).
Those who do not receive what they pray for, but remain faithful, receive something better: a mature faith.
1 Thessalonians 5:18; Hebrews 11:22,35b-36,40; Genesis 15:13-14, 50:24; Judges 6:13-16; Job 1, 2:3,9-10, 38:1-4
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).
As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. For who is God, except the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? God is my strength and power, and He makes my way perfect (2 Samuel 22:31-33).
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:9-11).
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).
