Stop Questioning God

We say we believe. We say we trust. We say that Jesus Christ is God. Still, we question whether He knows the best way to live or not. Sure, way not actually ask Him, but our actions speak for themselves. We live as if we question who knows best and nobody is immune.

In those days, at Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms liberally to the people, and prayed constantly to God. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius.” And he stared at him in terror, and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and bring one Simon who is called Peter; he is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.” When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those that waited on him, and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. The next day, as they were on their journey and coming near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. And he became hungry and desired something to eat; but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance and saw the heaven opened, and something descending, like a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “No, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call common.” This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

Acts 10.1-16

Saint Peter, the leader of the Apostles, had to be reminded about God’s wisdom. “What God has cleansed, you must not call common.” Today’s blog isn’t about food. It isn’t even really about evangelism, although the reading is about both.

Today’s blog is about finally trusting that God means what He says, He says what He means, and He always knows what He’s talking about. If He wants us to love our enemies, then He knows that is best. If He wants us to stop judging others, then why do we question Him.

I think I find judgment the hardest, if I’m being easy. I look at the choices people make and wonder why others wouldn’t listen to God. Then I look in the mirror and realize, HA! God is talking about ME, not the other people.

I’m the one God is speaking to in today’s reading, not someone else. I’m the one living ‘as if’ I don’t trust God’s teachings, or at least I stopped listening. I’m the one who needs the reminder. Then I realize, “Well, if Peter needed to be reminded, I don’t feel so bad.”

I think that is the joy of reading the Scriptures daily. No matter how many times we read today’s passage, we always get something fresh for our journey. It would be easy to ‘see myself’ as Cornelius, blessed for his many prayers and alms. Alas, I am more like Peter today.

The best I can do sometimes is to admit I don’t trust myself to trust God. I don’t trust my willpower. I don’t trust my endurance to temptation. I don’t trust that I have what Saint Peter had. Sure, he denied knowing Christ, but that was before Pentecost. What is my excuse?

Don’t feel ashamed if you feel like Saint Peter today. Don’t feel guilty if you realize you stopped listening to God. Don’t feel despondent. God reminded Peter, SO THAT, you could be reminded today. There’s still time to start listening and stop questioning. That is the joy of God’s love.