Will God release you from a promise you made Him and give you forgiveness for failing to keep the promise?

Sincerely,
Regretful

Dear Regretful,

Jesus tells us that our word is binding and that our ‘yes’ should mean ‘yes’ and our ‘no’ should mean ‘no’ (Matt 5:37).  We are warned that we should perform our vows to the Lord (Ps 76:11).  Eccl 5:4-5 makes it clear that if we make a promise before God – we need to stick with it.  Can you be forgiven if you made a promise and then failed? Yes (1 Jn 1:9), but if you made a promise to God and now simply want out of it because it is more difficult than you thought it would be… that’s a different story.  God takes our promises seriously, and we need to as well.

     I understand the reasons and the potential good that can come from suffering, but why does God allow some to suffer more than others? Though none are completely innocent, there are many in the world who seem to suffer unfairly and undeservedly.

Sincerely,
Why Them?

Dear Why Them,

Some people suffer greatly, and others face relatively few problems.  There are several reasons that someone might have a greater portion of trials.

1. We reap what we sow (Gal 6:7-8).  The choices we make have consequences in this life – and in the next.  What you do affects you and those around you that you come in contact with.  When you behave godly, certain things happen; when you behave sinfully, other things happen.  That is a universal principle of life.  If a woman drinks while she is pregnant or a child is neglected and malnourished because of ungodly parents – they will suffer the consequences of the choices their parents make.  Some children face health issues that were totally avoidable if the parents had simply lived moral lives.  Satan is sowing disaster wherever he can and we are all affected by our own choices and the choices of others around us.
2. Sometimes bad things simply happen because they happen.  Job suffered greatly, and his children died, but it wasn’t his (or their) fault.  Job hadn’t done anything wrong, nor had his kids.  It all happened because Satan wanted to do evil (Job 1:6).  As long as we live in this world of sin, there will be troubles.  Sometimes, there isn’t anyone at fault… just time and chance wreaking havoc in a sinful world (Eccl 9:11).
3. Sometimes people suffer so that God can be glorified.  Jesus’ disciples asked Him why a certain man had been born blind, and Jesus answered, “So that God’s works might be revealed in him.” (Jhn 9:1-3)  This man’s ailment provided an opportunity for God to show His glory.  There are times that we suffer, so God can teach us and teach others through our pain (Eccl 7:2-3).

This world isn’t fair – if it were, it would be heaven.  Instead, we live in a fallen world where man has been exiled from paradise.  This world is not our home; christians await a better world (Heb 11:16).

     Is it okay to be mad at God when He doesn’t answer a prayer?  My whole family was praying I wouldn’t lose my job; then I did.  How could God let that happen when the Bible tells us to ask in Jesus’ name, and we will receive?

Sincerely,
Let Down

Dear Let Down,

It isn’t okay to be mad at God, but it is okay to be upset.  We would caution you in saying that God has turned a deaf ear to you.  God does answer prayers, but He also tells us that what we ask for won’t be granted if it isn’t within His will (Jas 4:15).  God knows what you are going through – and there is a reason.  When Joseph was thrown into prison, he ended up being the king’s right-hand man (Gen 39:20).  When Moses was exiled to the desert for forty years, he ended up being the savior of all Israel (Acts 7:29-30).  Even Jesus proves that suffering can lead to victory; His death on the cross led to the forgiveness of sins (Heb 12:2).

Life here on this planet is full of heartaches, and we here at AYP cannot imagine how hard this last year has been for you.  The last several years have been very difficult for many, many people.  Just don’t forget that adversity can lead to victory.  No battle is won without bloodshed, and no bridge is built without sweat.  God causes all things to work together for good for those who love Him (Rom 8:28).

     When Jesus the Christ walked the earth, did He know everything?

Sincerely,
I Don’t Know

Dear I Don’t Know,

When Jesus lived on this planet, He was tempted in all things just like every other human… the only difference was that He never sinned (Heb 4:15).  That means that Jesus had to walk by faith and not sight, just like we do (2 Cor 5:7).  There were times when Jesus had divine supernatural knowledge of things, but there were other times that Jesus admitted He didn’t know what the Father’s plans were (Matt 24:36).  Jesus didn’t know everything when He lived on Earth.

I am concerned that I may have committed blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Two times, when I was younger and unhappy with life, I looked up at heaven and put up my middle finger and cursed at the Holy Spirit. I have since repented and asked forgiveness. Is this the type of speaking against the Holy Spirit that Jesus said is unpardonable?

Sincerely, Wish I’d Watched My Mouth

Dear Wish I’d Watched My Mouth,

There is definitely no doubt that you sinned, but it wasn’t an unpardonable sin. You can still be forgiven. The sin against the Holy Spirit mentioned in Matt 12:31-32 is the sin of rejecting His Word. The Holy Spirit is the one who gave us the Word of God (Jhn 14:26, 1 Cor 2:11-13). See this post for more details on the work of the Holy Spirit.

When someone “sins against the Holy Spirit”, they reject what the Holy Spirit offers mankind – the Bible. Every other sin can be forgiven, but when someone rejects God’s Word, there is no hope left. A murderer, thief, adulterer, etc. can all be reformed if they will accept the authority of the Bible… but no matter how good someone seems to be, if they reject God’s Word they cannot be saved (Rom 1:16). By the very act of asking this question, you prove that you haven’t rejected the Bible. Therefore, you have not committed the unpardonable sin.