A Fictional Character's Favorite Question

I'm really bad about asking "why?" I mean, I do it way too often, and always expect an answer. Case in point: twice, I inadvertently wrote this aspect of me into the main character of my short story "House Divided..."

Nothing was more frustrating than confusion.

Not really knowing why things were the way they were infuriated her. Now that she had come to this milestone, her education seemed glaringly incomplete.

As of late I've been convinced that God is using the lack of answers to my "whys" to show me what trust really looks like.

It's particularly hard to trust God's goodness and sovereignty in areas I feel like I can and should have control over. One of these areas is the state of my own heart. My misinformed view--though I know better, on an intellectual level--is that God wants our hearts right before him, meaning I need to make that happen myself. Whether assiduously reading my Bible, memorizing x number of verses or helping x number of people, I use my Christian checklist to try to force myself to grow.

Once again, the Word shines light on falsehood and gives me yet another reason to have hope and joy in the God of my salvation:

Philippians 1:6 - "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you [ie. not you own self] will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

Then there's Paul, who, in the context of a discussion in Philippians 3 about pressing onward to gain a righteousness by faith, says, "Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained."

What a comfort! As we pursue God, we may "think otherwise." Though our mind may hold fast to a viewpoint, God has the power to break through the most stubborn barrier and show us reality. Only he can do it, and he will.