When You’ve Got a Complaint Against God

Life is messy, and sometimes it doesn’t make sense. We’ve all faced moments when we asked, “Why, God?” Maybe it’s the tragic loss of a loved one, an unanswered prayer, or the injustice we see in the world. We cry out to God, yet it feels like nothing changes. In those moments, we can relate to the prophet Habakkuk, who was confused, hurt, and angry with God. Habakkuk’s story is unique because instead of receiving a message from God to deliver to the people, we witness a conversation—a raw and honest dialogue between a hurting prophet and his Creator.

Habakkuk begins with tough questions that resonate with our own lives: “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but You do not listen?” (Hab. 1:2). He was frustrated by the evil and injustice in his world, wondering why God allowed it to continue. He saw violence, destruction, and a broken justice system where the wicked seemed to prevail. Sound familiar? It’s not far from what we see in today’s world. Just like Habakkuk, we struggle with understanding why God appears silent in the face of suffering.

In response, God does something unexpected. He tells Habakkuk that He is raising up the Babylonians, a cruel and violent people, to bring judgment on Judah. Habakkuk is shocked. How could God use an even more wicked nation to accomplish His purpose? It didn’t make sense, and it felt unjust. But through this, we learn that God’s ways are higher than our ways. Even when we can’t understand His plan, He’s still working. Sometimes, things get worse before they get better, but God is still in control. Our challenge is to trust Him, even in the chaos, knowing that He is our Good Shepherd, guiding us through the darkest valleys.

Why Hard Questions Are Okay
It’s natural to have hard questions for God. The Bible doesn’t shy away from the reality of doubt, confusion, and suffering. Like Habakkuk, we’re invited to bring our complaints, frustrations, and fears to God. He’s not offended by our honesty. In fact, our faith grows in the tension between doubt and belief. It’s okay to say, “Lord, I believe, but help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). Just as Jesus healed a father’s son after that cry for help, He is present in our struggles, ready to meet us in our moments of weakness.

The Reality of Unanswered Prayers
We’ve all experienced times when we prayed fervently, yet the answers didn’t come the way we expected. Whether it’s the mother who prays for her prodigal son who’s walked away from the faith, or the spouse who prays for healing that never comes, unanswered prayers can shake our faith. Habakkuk knew this feeling all too well. His cries for help seemed to fall on deaf ears. But through his story, we’re reminded that God hears every prayer, even when the answer is delayed or looks different than we imagined.

God’s response to Habakkuk wasn’t what he wanted to hear, but it was what he needed. The same is often true for us. We may not always get the answers we seek, but we are called to trust in God’s ultimate plan—a plan that is working for our good, even when it feels otherwise.

Evil and Injustice in the World
The second complaint Habakkuk brings before God is one we often wrestle with ourselves: the problem of evil and injustice. Habakkuk was surrounded by destruction and violence, and it seemed like justice had been paralyzed. In a modern context, we see the same issues—rising crime rates, broken systems, and moral decay. It’s easy to feel hopeless in the face of such overwhelming problems. But Habakkuk’s story reminds us that even when it seems like the wicked are winning, God’s justice will ultimately prevail.

Trusting God When We Don’t Understand
The most challenging part of Habakkuk’s journey was accepting God’s plan, even when it didn’t make sense. God’s choice to use the Babylonians, a ruthless and violent nation, as a tool of judgment was shocking. But this teaches us that God’s methods are beyond our understanding. Sometimes He allows situations to worsen before they improve, but He is always in control. It’s in these moments that our faith is tested, and we are called to trust in His goodness.

Hope for the Struggling
If you’re feeling like Habakkuk right now, wondering where God is in your life, know that you are not alone. It’s okay to have doubts and to ask tough questions. God welcomes our struggles and invites us to lean on Him. He is our Shepherd, guiding us through the valleys, even when we can’t see the way forward. The journey may be long, and the answers may not come quickly, but He is faithful.

A Call to Prayer and Trust
As a church family, we are here to walk with you through your struggles. If you are wrestling with doubt, confusion, or pain, we encourage you to seek prayer and counsel. Like Habakkuk, we may not understand why God allows certain things to happen, but we can still cry out to Him in faith. And like the father in Mark 9, we can ask Him to help us overcome our unbelief. Let’s continue to trust in His timing and His plans, knowing that He works all things together for our good.

Join Us in Seeking God Together
We invite you to reach out to our spiritual leaders and elders if you’re in a tough place right now. Let’s cry out to Jesus together, believing that He will meet us in our struggles and bring us through to the other side. Whether you’re facing sickness, financial difficulties, or relational strain, we are here to pray with you. As we seek God together, may we find strength in His presence and peace in His plan.

- Adapted from the sermon preached at our Walloon Lake campus on 9/8/24.