The Struggle

O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Psalm 22:2
One of the big problems we struggle with as Christians is our struggling. We think it's silly to question God. We think it might mean we are not the Christians we think we are.
Here's the thing, we all struggle and we all question God. There is nothing wrong with this. It is through our struggles that we become stronger. We become better. We become more like Christ.
Before a butterfly is a butterfly it is first a caterpillar. The caterpillar grows and eventually creates a cocoon around itself. A couple of weeks later it begins to emerge by breaking through the cocoon with some force and struggling to set itself free. When it is finally free it is beautiful and strong. It is able to make its migratory trek.
If you happened by and saw the caterpillar struggle to be free and cut open the cocoon in an attempt to be merciful the butterfly would be weak. The wings would not be fully developed and it would die in a matter of days. Why?
The struggle of the butterfly to be free is what gives it strength. The struggle helps to fully develop the butterfly's wings. It is the same with us humans.
If we do not go through the struggle how will we ever know how to be stronger the next time. If we do not wrestle with The Lord and question his goodness, how will we ever learn to fully trust him. We ask the questions, "Why," "How long," and "Where were you."
It is by our finiteness grappling with the infinite that we grow. It is OK to question God, sometimes he is silent because he is waiting on us to give it all over to Him. Sometimes there is silence because God wants us to be obedient and faithful while we are rebellious.
We sometimes struggle because life isn't what we expected or want it to be. We are called to be obedient not successful and famous.
Remember what the apostle James said, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4
May you be encouraged to persevere in the valley so you can later have the strength to ascend the mountain.