I love astronomy. Admittedly, it’s kind of a silly hobby for someone who hates being out in the cold, usually goes to bed early, and fears the outside dark. But I love it so much, I can overlook the difficulties. I love gazing through my telescope at heavenly bodies so distant I could never dream of visiting them. And I love lying on my back and trying to take in the entire night sky at once.
One of the most fascinating astronomical objects is known as the Pillars of Creation. I can’t see them through my backyard telescope, but an image taken by Hubble reveals spectacular, other-worldly clouds of ethereal colors. According to scientists, the distance between the top and bottom of the longest finger equals roughly four light-years. Four light-years!
That means if you traveled at the speed of light, it would take you four years to cross just the center of the photograph.
My humble human brain cannot fathom four light-years, much less the 7,000 light-years between us and the Eagle Nebula, where the Pillars are found. I have no concept of that kind of time and distance.
If I can’t fathom the amazing details of one distant heavenly body, how can I expect to fathom its Creator?
You don’t have to have all the answers.
but, hey, why not?
Bring me your questions about faith, life, God, the Bible… and I’ll help you find the answers.
In This Article
“God, please don’t let them ask me that.”
Have you ever been paralyzed by a question about your faith?
“How can the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be separate, yet the same?”
“How do you know God exists if you can’t see him?”
“Aren’t all religions basically the same?”
Nonbelievers (and even some believers) have lots of questions about Christianity. The odds are such that if you’re living out your faith, someday someone will pose a hard question that sends you scrambling to answer. More and more people have come to question the existence of God and balk at what seems like a long list of don’ts in the Bible.
So how should you handle the toughest questions about God without being blindsided?
It will happen, and it’s okay.
What I say next might take some of you by surprise:
It’s okay to not have all the answers.
The Bible says to “always be prepared to have an answer” (1 Peter 3:15), but it does not say you must have every answer. Mere mortals cannot completely understand an all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present being. Our minds cannot grasp the full greatness of God just like our eyes cannot behold his glory. It just isn’t possible.
What does 1 Peter 3:15 say you must always have an answer for?
“Always be prepared to give the reason for the hope that you have.”
Basically, what is it that sets you apart from the rest of the world? What do you believe and why? You can borrow the answer from verses 18-22, which, when summarized, say:
Christ died for me so that I may stand faultless before God, and he continues to stand at God’s right hand, acting on my behalf.
That’s it. When you believe that, the other details fade in importance.
How to Defend Your Faith When You Don’t Have The Answer
“If God is so loving, why would he send anyone to hell?”
“Does the Bible contradict itself?”
“Why did God put the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in the garden of Eden in the first place?”
What should you do when a question about the Bible or your faith in Jesus paralyzes you?
First, just because you don’t have the answer—or that the greatest scientists and theologians don’t have the answer either—doesn’t mean the answer does not exist. It’s called faith for a reason. We know enough about Jesus to put our faith in him, but we don’t know everything. I don’t have to know everything about overtones, frequency, and how my vocal cords function in order to sing a beautiful song.
Just because you don’t have the answer doesn’t mean the answer does not exist.
Second, you can admit that you don’t have the answers. Sure, some might sneer at you and think they’ve won their case. But you’ve just made a really good point:
God is too great for human reasoning.
Third, sometimes the best answer is knowing where to send someone for the real answers. “I don’t know, but let’s look in the Bible together.” Or, “Would you like to speak to my pastor about that?”
Handling the Toughest Questions About God: Don’t have the answer? Go get it!
Yes, it’s okay to not have all the answers, but don’t take that as a license to remain ignorant. Don’t stand there naked and let someone beat you over the head with their logic. Seek the answers yourself!
Never stop being a student of the Bible. Study apologetics (the intellectual defense of the Christian religion). Look to Christian scientists (scientists who are Christian; not to be confused with the Christian Science sect) for explanations to your tough questions.
And trust that one day, in your eternal glory as purchased for you by Christ’s blood, you will have all the answers to the toughest questions about God!
Sometimes I am just lost to think someone does not believe. Try to state my case and usually lose! Makes me so sad especially when it is family. Thank you for these eye openers❤️
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