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The Incomprehensible God: Living Faithfully with Unanswered “Why”

May 8, 2026May 7, 2026 krisshetter

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” – Romans 11:33

Humanity’s oldest question may be only one word long: why. We have answered many “whys” about the universe—about stars, seasons, and gravity—yet each discovery seems to open the door to even deeper questions. When suffering touches our lives, the question becomes painfully personal. Why death? Why tragedy, broken relationships? And still, the answers often remain just beyond our grasp.

Scientific atheism pretends it can answer all our questions, from astronomy to psychology and biology to zoology. Yet, like an annoying two-year old, we can still ask “yes, but why?” Of course, a big question is why does God’s incomprehensibility matter for how we live and suffer?

Great Mysteries in Job

In the Bible, the book of Job seems to lead us into so many of these “whys” with a few “hows?” Why did God let satan torment Job? Why did God have to punish a man who seemed so loyal to Him? The scripture has God telling Job something we humans just don’t like to hear:

“Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?” – Job 11:7

My father struggled with this very problem of “why?” He couldn’t allow himself to acknowledge that if God is God, then there is no ability on our part to fathom Him in entirety. I’m not even fully assured we will understand Him completely when we find ourselves in the new heavens and new earth.

God is God and we are not. Oh, we may try really hard to fill our minds with solutions to the mysteries of the world. But let’s be honest, there are just some things we are not meant to know, at least not yet. As modern people we get caught up in thinking we know so much more than the ancient peoples. We set ourselves up thinking we don’t need God to explain anything of this world. But the more we “discover” the more questions we find ourselves asking.

Knowledge Revealed

“He replied, ‘The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables so that, though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’” – Luke 8:10

“It is the glory of God to conceal things” Proverbs 25: 2

I love how these two scriptures tell us something so amazing about God. It is His right and authority to conceal things. And because we are told throughout scripture how much God loves us, I would imagine He conceals things we can’t understand or accept at this time. Scripture also tells us that He has been revealing secrets to us for a long time.

When Jesus came about 2,000 years ago, He came revealing the Kingdom of God. In parable after parable, He showed us what God’s kingdom is like for believers. And for those who hate God, they struggle to see His truths. I’m always surprised at how atheists view God and specifically the Christian faith. They call it a “cult” or “hateful.” Yet all Christians know that we come freely to Christ to repair our broken lives. We are told to forgive, release all greed and malice, avoid immorality, love others especially our enemies. While not every Christian is a perfect example of this, we all should be working towards these goals.

Mystery In The Ordinary

Living our ordinary lives in light of God’s mystery was the topic of my BSGs’ study on the book of Ruth by Alistair Begg called “God of the Ordinary.” Naomi was a perfect example of a person who struggled with the “whys” of life. She became bitter and angry with God. Then through others she began to see Him at work in ordinary people in ordinary situations. God revealing Himself a bit at a time to her and her daughter in law, Ruth. As believers we have to opportunity to see God’s providence in retrospect. It’s a gift to look over generations and see Him at work in the most ordinary of ways.

Friends, we all ask “why” throughout our days. We should be comforted, however, knowing that God has us safely positioned in His great plan. When tragedy strikes, illnesses are revealed, or relationships fail let us look to God the incomphrensible in faith knowing we are in good hands.

I Am Not Skilled To Understand (1^st stanza) Dora Greenwell (1873)

“I am not skilled to understand
what God has willed, what God has planned;
I only know that at his right hand
is One who is my Savior!”

Day 29 Good Day

July 29, 2024July 24, 2024 krisshetter

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:1-5

“The Lord bless you and keep you; ²⁵the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; ²⁶the Lordturn his face toward you and give you peace.”’ Numbers 6:24-26

I’ve heard a famous Christian teacher tell audiences this profound truth: “It’s one thing to see a miserable sinner but a miserable Christian is a tragic thing.” While we all, believers and non-believers, have heartbreaking or difficult events in our lives, we have to acknowledge that the majority of our lives run from fun and exciting to dull and average. Yet throughout it all Jesus followers should emulate the apostle Paul and be always searching and living gratefully for God’s ever presence in our lives.

This truth really hit home for me when I read Corrie Ten Boom’s famous book, “The Hiding Place.” Her sister Betsie could find joy in God’s provision even in the darkest moments of a Nazi concentration camp. Corrie, more of a like-mind with me, would roll her eyes when her sister would make joyous declarations such as, “Give thanks in all circumstances. It doesn’t say ‘in pleasant circumstances.’ Fleas are part of this place where God has put us.”

As lights of the Lord reflecting out God’s love and goodness to the world, we need to be especially mindful of our outward attitude and appearance when events go awry in our lives. Showing the world who we trust and who is working for our good. And when events turn to joy we need to give it all up to God in His bountiful mercy and glory.

I first heard this song about having a good day when I was visiting and caring for my two-year old grandson. My daughter had shared with me Owen’s Spotify playlist so we could listen to his pre-school songs in the car. You know, fun stuff like “icky sticky bubble gum” and the “wheels on the bus” played on repeat. When this bright and joyous song came on in the car he exclaimed, “Mommy’s song!” We sang along with vigor.

I asked my daughter about it later that day. She explained they play this song every morning on their way to work and daycare to set the tone for the day. To remember that with God in our lives it can always be a good day. Because while the Lord has blessed us with breath and we acknowledge that the creator of the universe knows our very name, we can have a great day in every single way.

Friend, I once thought this view of life was blind to the realities of the world. Until the scales were taken off my eyes and the truth was revealed. Emmanuel, God with Us, shines His beautiful light on us in all circumstances. So play it loud and sing it like ya mean it. Because today can and will be a good day.

Click here to listen to today’s song: Good Day

Day 11 The Goodness

July 11, 2024July 8, 2024 krisshetter

I am the bread of life.  John 6:48

Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.  Proverbs 14:26-27

I was talking with a young woman recently who was raised in the Christian faith and at 18 went off to Bible college for a few semesters. At 19, she dropped out, got married, and was soon pregnant. At 21, her husband abandoned their family. Soon after, she abandoned Jesus.

You see when calamity hit, her faith was revealed to be built on the sand Jesus warns us about in Matthew 7:24-27. Her house fell after the windy, stormy beating. How could that be? She was surrounded by the faithful for all her life up until then. Isn’t that enough?

Let’s look at our faith this way. If I hung around a bunch of people who loved baking and I enjoyed eating what they made, it wouldn’t make me a baker. It’d make me fat, however! I would have knowledge of baking, the process, the ingredients, the do’s and don’ts. Without the love of baking and actually getting my hands covered in flour I’d just be an observer.

It’s not the doing that makes us Christians it’s the surrendered belief that Jesus loves us so much He died for our sins, was buried, and rose again in the witnessed resurrection. He becomes our secure fortress, our daily provision, and fountain of life. He holds us tight through every tragedy and every windfall in our life. We soon find Him at work everywhere. He keeps showing up.

When Toby Mac wrote this song it was after the death of his adult son from an overdose. Of course, it was tragic. Of course, he was full of tears and heartache. But he had built his house on solid ground. He sought refuge in the Lord. The wind blew and the storm enveloped him. Eventually, the sun came out and he was able to walk out his door into the warm sunlight of God’s love.

As for that young woman? She is now happily married and I’m so glad to say she wants to know about Jesus and this Bread of Life. She wants to learn how to build her life so she too can withstand what this world throws at us. My prayer is that she will begin to see Jesus at work everywhere.

Click here to listen: The Goodness