top of page

Straight Paths-“I’ve always heard it said, we aren’t supposed to question God”


“I’ve always heard it said, we aren’t supposed to question God”

Loren Hardin

The Ashland Beacon

 

     Altie was in her seventies when she enrolled in our outpatient Hospice program with end-stage bone cancer.  She was born and raised in the mountains of eastern Kentucky.  She and her husband moved to Southern Ohio shortly after marrying.  Altie testified, “I was saved at age fifty. My husband was saved fifteen years before me; but he didn’t push me. It must be your time. You’ll know when it’s your time. He’ll come to you.”

     Altie lived in town with her daughter, Eva, for several weeks following her cancer surgery, but Altie longed to return to her country home. So, we arranged home delivered meals and an emergency response system, and Altie was on her way back home.  Her family continued to support and encourage Altie while respecting her independence.  On my first visit to her old home place Altie gave me a tour and proudly declared, “Me and my husband built this house; and I drove just as many nails as he did!”  

     With time and fierce determination, Altie adjusted remarkably well to returning home and living semi-independently; especially when you consider she was right-handed and had very limited use of her right arm which was in a sling.  Cancer had ravaged the bones in Altie’s right arm and shoulder and the slightest movement triggered excruciating pain. When I complimented Altie on learning to use her left hand, she replied, “But I think I’ve learned it a little too late.  I think the cancer is getting worse.  I’m not walking to the mailbox now and I’m not sleeping very well. You can’t help but ask God, ‘Why me? Why did all this have to happen to me?’  But I’ve always heard it said that we aren’t supposed to question God.”  I too have heard that statement repeated many times, and I have routinely nodded in passive mindless agreement. But, for some reason, not this time. So, I asked Altie, “Who says so?”. I suggested that just because people say something It isn’t necessarily so. 

     I stand guilty of agreeing with, and even repeating, expressions and assertions without questioning their validity.  For example, I’ve always heard it said, “It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than it is permission,”, but it isn’t necessarily so. Following that advice can get you into a heap of trouble. And I’ve always heard it said, “Happy wife, happy life”, but it isn’t necessarily so. Just because my wife, Susie, is happy as a lark about the new living room suit, we bought and the new flooring we had installed, it doesn’t’ necessarily mean I’m a happy husband. But of course, I am. And we’ve all heard it said, “You can do anything you set your mind to”, but it isn’t necessarily so. 

      A.W. Tozer (1897-1963), pastor, author and magazine editor wrote: “Scarcely anyone appears to have the discernment or the courage to turn around and lean into the wind even though the truth may easily lie in that direction…the voice of the turtle dove was rarely heard in the land; instead the parrot sat on his artificial perch and dutifully repeated what he had been taught…” (“Keys to the Deeper Life”, by A.W. Tozer). So, the next time someone says, “I’ve always heard it said…” let’s have the discernment and courage to turn around and lean into the wind and ask, “Who says so?” 

      When I returned to the office the day after my visit with Altie, I asked Shirley, one of our volunteers, her thoughts about questioning God.  Shirley, being a student of the Bible, enthusiastically accepted the challenge of researching what the Bible had to say about it. The next day Shirley shared her findings. She explained, “I started reading the Bible from the beginning and everywhere I turned someone was questioning or arguing with God.”   Shirley concluded, “The Bible is full of people asking questions of God.  God wants us to turn to Him. God understands us.  He understands our weaknesses and our questions.”

      Shirley’s comments remind me of the lyrics of a song by the contemporary Christian group, “4Him”: “They say that into every life some rain must fall, for the pain is no respecter of the mighty or the small. But sometimes it just seems so unfair to see the one who’s had more than his share. Oh, it makes you wonder why. And Lord I wouldn’t second guess your mighty plan. For I know you have a purpose that’s beyond the scope of men. If you look inside my heart, you will find that I have always been the trusting kind, but still, I wonder why the rainy days have to come, when the storm clouds hide the sun. I want to know why. when the reasons aren’t clear to me, when it all is a mystery, I want to know why. And though down here I don’t understand, I won’t let go of the unseen hand… The Lord has never been afraid of honest prayers…. When He knows that your trust is in Him, He doesn’t mind the questions now and then…, (YouTube: “Why”, by 4Him). 

      “So, when you don’t understand, when you don’t see His plan, when you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart… (YouTube: “Trust His Heart”, by Babbie Mason). 

      Loren Hardin was a social worker with Southern Ohio Medical Center Hospice for twenty-nine years. He can be reached at lorenhardin53@gmail.com or 740.357.6091. You can purchase a copy of his book, “Straight Paths: Insights for living from those who have finished the course”, at Amazon. 

 

 

 

11 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


P.O. BOX 25

Ashland, KY, 41105

  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Stay Informed: Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Thank You for Subscribing!

ABOUT US

 

The Ashland Beacon’s owners, Philip and Lora Stewart, Kimberly Smith, and Jason Smith, established The Greater Ashland Beacon in 2011 and over the years the Beacon has grown into what you see now… a feel-good, weekly newspaper that brings high quality news about local events, youth sports, and inspiring people that are important to you. The Greater Ashland Beacon prides itself in maintaining a close relationship with the community and love nothing more than to see businesses, youth, and civic organizations in the surrounding areas of Boyd and Greenup counties thrive. 

bottom of page