ODJ: God Has the Answers

August 28, 2018 

READ: Acts 24:1-27 

I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Roman government, even though I had done nothing against our people (28:17).

Let me warn you about systematic theology.” My friend started telling me of her struggles in studying biblical doctrines for the first time. “It’s hard . . . it can make you doubt, because you learn that we don’t have the answers to everything about God. Sometimes we can’t know the answers, and we have to trust that God knows them, and that that’s enough.”

My friend’s words can apply to any area of life. There are some things we don’t and won’t ever have answers to. But we can have peace, trusting that it’s okay if we don’t know the answer, because God does.

In the book of Acts, Paul faced many situations where he didn’t have all the answers. As an advocate for Christ, his preaching often got him into trouble and put him in positions where he was under trial while authorities debated whether he did something deserving punishment. In chapter 24, Paul was charged by Ananias the high priest and the Jewish elders in Caesarea. Hoping for a bribe, Governor Felix kept Paul in custody for two years (vv.26-27). But even after he was succeeded as governor, he left Paul in prison (vv.25-27).

The trials Paul faced didn’t end there. In the final chapters of Acts (25-28), we see him continuing to make his case to the new governor, the king and finally travelling to Rome to make his case before Caesar. Paul went years without knowing what would happen next. In fact, Acts concludes without the final details of Paul’s life. But while he was under guard, he didn’t waste any opportunity to tell those around him about Jesus (26:28, 27:22-26, 28:23).

We won’t ever have all the answers about our situation, but God does. We can trust Him and know He’s always working in and through us!

—Julie Schwab

365-day plan: John 12:1-11

MORE
Read Hebrews 11:1-40 to see examples of people who lived by faith even when they didn’t see answers or the end result. 
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What’s something in your life you wish you had an answer to? How can you trust God and let Him use you where you are, even without an answer?