By Doug Creamer

            I live next to some woods, which I enjoy because they provide both privacy and cooling shade in the heat of summer. The woods near my house are mainly pine trees. On the other end of the woods there are mainly hardwood trees. I enjoy the peacefulness of walking through the woods, which reminds me of my days in the Boy Scouts.

            There are several really big trees right on the edge of the woods, including a very old elm, several oaks, a couple of maples, and sadly, some sweetgum trees. The sweetgum trees are large and provide lots of great shade. BUT…they also provide lots of gumballs. They get in the gutters, flowerbeds, vegetable garden, and all over my yard. If I had a dollar for each one I would be very wealthy!

            I hate gumballs. They make walking in the yard difficult. The lawn mower hits them and throws them…sometimes at me! They are problems that get into everything and don’t provide any benefit to me.

            When we get windy storms I lie in bed and listen to them hitting the roof. I hear them rolling down the roof and probably getting stuck in the gutters. I have wondered at times why God created sweetgum trees. My curiosity goes beyond gumballs to include poison ivy and plants that have burrs. My list of questionable things also includes mosquitos, flies, and slugs. Some people might include jellyfish and snakes on the list.

            We need to be careful. There is a huge difference between asking God a question and questioning God. It is okay to ask God a question because you want to learn, grow, and have a better understanding. Are you asking to be teachable? I think it comes down to how you asked the question. Asking God, “Why is the sky blue?” is very different from, “Why did you make the sky blue?” The first sounds more curious while the second sounds more like you are questioning his color choice.

            I am afraid that my questions about gumballs and poison ivy might fall in the wrong category of questions. I want to be careful to not cross the line with God. We are never in a position to question God. When Job went to God with his questions, God confronted him. “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundations?” I hope I never find myself in that place.

            In one hour Job lost all his children and his wealth. It is a very natural reaction for him to say, “God, why weren’t you watching over my children? Don’t you care that my wealth was stolen from me?” In this case, Job is accusing God of something He didn’t do. The Bible makes it clear that Satan is the accuser, destroyer, and thief. Job’s frustration with his situation was aimed in the wrong direction.

            When we are facing trials and challenges we can easily find ourselves just like Job. We raise our voices towards heaven and ask, “Where were you, God?” Think of the people in California who lost their homes to the fires or the people in our mountains who lost their homes to the flooding; it’s easy to understand why they might question God. I can understand why the parents of a little child who has cancer or the husband of a wife who was in a terrible car wreck might find themselves questioning God.

            First, we have to remember that God is NOT the author of the tragic situation. He is our GOOD Father who heals, restores, and rights the wrongs. He is the one who will send His children to help the one in need. He is the rescuer and the redeemer. God does allow our faith to be tested to see if we will trust Him in the darkest of times. But He is also the one who will come through for us in our difficult moments.

            I want to encourage you to bring your difficult things to God. Be careful not to question Him, but seek His wisdom, guidance, and comfort. Ask Him for help because you know He is a good Father and you can trust that He will see you through your situation. There is nothing too difficult for God. Nothing is impossible for Him. His love for you is deeper than you can ever understand. Put your hand in His. Follow Him. Trust Him. Believe in His goodness. He will see you through to the other side. This storm will pass. You can trust that the SON will shine on you.

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com