Arguing with God

When we get real with God, we can learn who God is and who we are.

When my daughter was diagnosed with autism, I had a few choice words for God. On a long evening walk under the stars, I railed at the unfairness of it all. At God’s unfairness. “Honestly, the kid’s barely out of preschool and she’s already undergone open heart surgery. Now this? Really? Would it have killed you to give us a break?”

You might be thinking that this is no way to talk to God. God has a plan. Faith is all about trusting God’s plan and rolling with it. You know, let go and let God. And while the whole God has a plan thing isn’t quite so simple, I’ve spilled more than my share of ink stressing the importance of letting go. Still, there’s more to our relationship with God than passive acceptance.

Sometimes we argue with God. Not because we’re being rebellious or petulant. Instead, when we honestly confront God, we can learn who God is and who we are. Take for instance the story of Jesus and the Canaanite woman. (Matthew 15:21-28)

Jesus and his disciples were walking through Tyre…