If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. James 1:5 NLT
Just as it is easy to let familiar Scriptures get by us without receiving what God would give us through them, we can be convinced that other parts of Scripture are so unfamiliar and difficult we can’t possibly understand them. That perspective can prevent us from engaging God’s Word in a transformative way.
The most common way we deal with difficult texts is by just ignoring them. But skipping them doesn’t make them go away. Eventually you will need to engage with them for your good or the benefit of someone else. Sometimes we elevate the verses beyond what is wise and turn them into church controversies. Or we take extreme positions. We say a clear interpretation is simple OR that a correct interpretation is impossible. We also mishandle the Scripture when we dig into it for the sake of argument and solution to make a point. None of these ways of approaching Scripture is good or helpful, but perhaps the worst thing we can do is approach a difficult Scripture with a judgmental attitude, cross-examining it and unintentionally judging the heart and wisdom of God.
How then do we manage these difficult passages? Encountering difficult, confusing, or harsh-appearing passages is common when we engage with the Bible. Instead of frustration and disillusionment over what you don’t understand, view these moments as invitations into deeper humility, intimacy, and a more satisfying reliance on God's character.
Scriptures that leave us puzzled remind us that God is God and we are not. His thoughts are not our thoughts; His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). It can be very sacred to sit in the mystery and tension with God rather than insisting on a way to make the Bible fit the way we think. And honestly, sometimes the Bible is not “hard” because we are intellectually challenged, but because it makes us question our assumptions, face our pride, leave our comfort zones. When Scripture is hard, it helps us cooperate with transformation as we honestly ask and answer, “Why does this Scripture make me uncomfortable or defensive?” Then listen to the inner voice and God and let Him work. When a Scripture leaves you with more questions than answers, use it to fuel your prayer life. Pray as the Psalmist did in Psalm 119:18: “Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.” (This is considered an “orphan Psalm, as no writer is attached to the authorship, Scholars say it was most likely David, Ezra, or Daniel. All three had life situations that make the thoughts is Psalm 119 understandable and applicable.)
- God, every word in Your Word has purpose and power. Help me pursue all that You have for me.