What is it about human nature that seeks for answers to the most difficult questions in life? Questions like, “Why am I sick?” Or, “Why did my loved one die?” Or, “Why can’t I make ends meet?” We witness endless cruelty, evil and pain and desperately hunt for an explanation. These sorts of questions can keep us searching our entire lives for lost pieces to a puzzle that will never be finished–at least not in this lifetime. As an avid jigsaw puzzler, I know well the frustration that comes with realizing you’ve worked for days on something that you’ll never complete because of some unforeseen mishap caused by a vacuum cleaner or a hungry dog. But I’m even more familiar with the inner turmoil that comes with dashed hopes and unmet expectations. Then I become overwhelmed with the need to figure out why, which often leads to despair.
Well, unfortunately, this article does not hold the answers to all of life’s questions. Perhaps the true answer is that the answers will never really be found. That is because the life lived in this mortal shell is merely a drop in the bucket compared to eternity. In fact, trying to find answers is like trying to finish a whole puzzle with only one piece.
Romans 8 says that creation groans in expectation for the glory of God. Those groans are compared to that of childbirth. Birth pains, although agonizing, are not full of despair, but of hope. Hope for what is to come. Hope for the joy that is so close you can taste it. When life feels like it might crush you, hold on to the hope of what is ultimately to come–an eternity spent with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Stop seeking for answers where they may never be found and focus on the Answer.
The apostle wrote that “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Rom 8:18). A tension exists between present sufferings and future glory. We do not yet see this glory, for it must be revealed at the appointed time. This present time consists of present sufferings, and during them we need a real and present hope for something that transcends the aches and agonies of living in a Genesis 3 [fallen] world.
We long, therefore, for the fulfillment of God’s promises—that the dead will be raised, the righteous vindicated, the wicked condemned, and creation made new. [1]
Wanting answers isn’t wrong. Perhaps it is a God-given attribute of humanity that reminds us that this world is not all there is. If you find yourself despairing over the disappointing things in this world, remember that this life is temporary. You don’t have to live without hope. Look to God and remember that he promises an amazing future to all who call upon Him.
[1] Chase, Mitch. “What Does it Mean that All of Creation Groans?” Word by Word. July 18, 2023. https://www.logos.com/grow/min-all-creation-groans/#easy-footnote-bottom-
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