Craig Groeschel

You might see someone with a brain tumor, and you're saying, God, I'm praying and believing, standing on your word that you're going to heal, and you haven't. So where are you? Some people, it's because they've been hurt by Christians, and then they'll often blame God for it or something. Someone in the church was mean to me or unkind. And so all Christians suck.

I'm mad at all Christians and God's not real, whatever it is. And so I found that if you just, if you really talk about what it is, I'm hurting, I'm disappointed, I'm mad at God. He didn't come through for me. I don't understand. They said one thing, they did something else. My pastor does. Now he lied about something or whatever. If you name it, you can take it to God.

I'm mad at all Christians and God's not real, whatever it is. And so I found that if you just, if you really talk about what it is, I'm hurting, I'm disappointed, I'm mad at God. He didn't come through for me. I don't understand. They said one thing, they did something else. My pastor does. Now he lied about something or whatever. If you name it, you can take it to God.

It's easier for God to heal something when you know it needs healing. And so don't be afraid to get specific about it and to take it to God. And I think sometimes the more specific we can be about, this is what I don't like. This is what I don't understand. When you read Habakkuk, this is what the guy did, the prophet. He's like, God, I don't understand. Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?

It's easier for God to heal something when you know it needs healing. And so don't be afraid to get specific about it and to take it to God. And I think sometimes the more specific we can be about, this is what I don't like. This is what I don't understand. When you read Habakkuk, this is what the guy did, the prophet. He's like, God, I don't understand. Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?

And what's powerful about his name is super cool if you read him. His name Habakkuk in Hebrew, it means to wrestle and it means to embrace. And that's what you do. It's like you're wrestling with God going, I don't like it. I don't understand. Where are you? And I'm not letting go. I'm trying to trust you and I'm not sure I trust you and I'm holding on.

And what's powerful about his name is super cool if you read him. His name Habakkuk in Hebrew, it means to wrestle and it means to embrace. And that's what you do. It's like you're wrestling with God going, I don't like it. I don't understand. Where are you? And I'm not letting go. I'm trying to trust you and I'm not sure I trust you and I'm holding on.

And I'm convinced God would rather have you come and yell at him than to walk away.

And I'm convinced God would rather have you come and yell at him than to walk away.

It's faith that you're questioning because you want to believe. It's not a lack of faith.

It's faith that you're questioning because you want to believe. It's not a lack of faith.

Don't you get Thomas? Yeah. Thomas probably, he went through some stuff.

Don't you get Thomas? Yeah. Thomas probably, he went through some stuff.

He had some people let him down. Yeah. Or he didn't, he was the guy that had prove it to me. And Jesus did, right? Jesus gave Thomas what he needed. Thomas said, I need to touch, I need to see. And Jesus said, here, touch and see. And that's encouraging to me. Jesus gave Thomas what he needed. Oh, I love that. He didn't get mad and say, why are you doubting? He said, okay, let me show you.

He had some people let him down. Yeah. Or he didn't, he was the guy that had prove it to me. And Jesus did, right? Jesus gave Thomas what he needed. Thomas said, I need to touch, I need to see. And Jesus said, here, touch and see. And that's encouraging to me. Jesus gave Thomas what he needed. Oh, I love that. He didn't get mad and say, why are you doubting? He said, okay, let me show you.

It is.

It is.

But he ended up with more faith I mean, he's the guy tradition tells us that he was preaching in India for years, and he wouldn't deny Jesus, and they ran a spear through him. So he's the one who said, I need to see the spear mark in the side, and then he died because he wouldn't deny his faith in Jesus. So he gets a bad rap.

But he ended up with more faith I mean, he's the guy tradition tells us that he was preaching in India for years, and he wouldn't deny Jesus, and they ran a spear through him. So he's the one who said, I need to see the spear mark in the side, and then he died because he wouldn't deny his faith in Jesus. So he gets a bad rap.

It's a relationship, right? So like Amy, and thank you for speaking highly of her. She is... a gift beyond measure. And she's the one who taught me, if we get in a kind of disagreement, I'll withdraw. And she's like, no, you won't. If you love me, we're going to work this thing out.