Many of us have been taught that one must never question God. If we experience hardships and heartaches, trails and tribulations, we must simply take our Romans 8:28 pill and suck it up: And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). Of course, the good is rarely alluded to, which is why I think it is a mistake to quote verse 28 without completing the thought in verses 29-30: For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified (Romans 8:29-30). In other words, the purpose of the “all things work for good” or the explanation of the “good” is that we might become more and more conformed to the image of God’s son, Jesus Christ. To question God is considered “off-limits.” To wonder why God is allowing this difficulty in my life is disrespectful, perhaps even blasphemous. The person who questions God, we are told, does not trust God.

Yet four times in our Psalm 13 David asks the question of God, “How long?” How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me (verses 1-2)?

At least eight other times throughout the psalms, God inspired the writer to record questions that began with “how long?” Numerous other questions are asked of God as to why it seemed as if God were absent from the affairs of his children. Chapter 10 begins with such a question: Why, O Lord, do you stand afar off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble (Psalm 10:1)?

We have often reassured ourselves with the promise that God will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), but we have overlooked the fact that God may work in such a way in our lives that it will seem as if he has forsaken and forgotten us.

There are times when it seems as if God has withdrawn himself from us and we are left to struggle to find answers regarding his purposes and intentions in our lives. God does not explain everything to us, but he does communicate sufficiently enough so that we know that we can trust him, even in times of difficulty and doubt.