We have all stood at the crossroads of faith and fear, wondering “Lord, what are You doing?” Whether you’re facing personal loss, unanswered prayer, uncertainty about the future, or you’re simply new to the Christian faith and still learning to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7), it’s not uncommon to wrestle with God’s plans. Let’s consider people in the Bible who questioned, hesitated, doubted, and even wrestled with God.
Maybe you’re trying to believe, but it feels like you’re just clinging to hope by a thread. Maybe you love God but still find yourself asking hard questions:
- Why is this happening?
- Did I hear God wrong?
- Can I really trust Him with everything?
The good news is this: you’re not alone, and you’re not the first to feel this way. I confess that I have often wrestled with God.
Throughout the Bible, even godly men and women (prophets, apostles, and patriarchs) questioned God’s timing, His methods, and sometimes His very plan. They weren’t perfect. They hesitated. They doubted. Some even protested. But God was not surprised or offended. Instead, He revealed more of Himself, corrected gently when needed, and faithfully brought His purposes to pass.
God is not shaken by your questions. He is not insecure about your honesty. In fact, the Bible records these stories to encourage you. God meets us in our weakness—not to scold us—but to show us that His strength is made perfect in it (2 Corinthians 12:9).
“Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:13–14)
God knows you’re human. He knows when your heart is tired, your faith is small, or your perspective is limited. But He also knows what He’s doing, even when you don’t. His plans are never delayed, derailed, or dependent on you having it all figured out.
So, if you’re struggling to trust, take heart: God is faithful even when you’re uncertain (2 Timothy 2:13). He invites you to bring your questions, lay down your burdens, and rest in His sovereignty.
Here is a list of biblical people who questioned God’s ways. Some of them literally wrestled with God. Remember these were people just like you. And yet, God used them, taught them, and worked through them to accomplish His perfect will. You’re not disqualified by your doubts. You’re simply on the journey of growing in grace.
- Adam & Eve (Genesis 3:1–6) – Believed Satan’s lie that God was holding back something good. Their questioning of God’s motives led to disobedience and the fall of mankind.
- Abraham (Genesis 17:17–18) – Laughed at God’s promise and questioned how a 100-year-old man and a 90-year-old wife could bear a child. He even suggested Ishmael might be the answer instead.
- Sarah (Genesis 18:12–15) – Laughed inwardly at the idea of bearing a child in her old age. When confronted by the Lord, she denied laughing, revealing her doubt and fear.
- Jacob (Genesis 32:24–30) – Wrestled with God all night and demanded a blessing. This physical and spiritual struggle shows how God meets us in our desperation and transforms us.
- Moses (Exodus 3–4) – Questioned God’s decision to send him to Pharaoh, citing his lack of eloquence and even asking God to send someone else.
- Joshua (Joshua 5:13–15) – Confronted the “Captain of the LORD’s host” and asked whose side He was on. The divine answer pointed Joshua to surrender and reverence—God isn’t on our side; we’re called to be on His.
- Gideon (Judges 6:13–17) – Wondered where God’s power had gone and why Israel was suffering if God was truly with them. Asked for multiple signs to confirm God’s calling.
- Job (Job 3–38) – Deeply questioned God’s justice and the reason behind his suffering. While not sinful, his complaints were answered by God’s overwhelming response from the whirlwind.
- Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:6; 20:7–9) – Protested that he was too young and inexperienced to be a prophet. Later felt deceived by God because of the persecution he suffered for proclaiming God’s word.
- Jonah (Jonah 4:1–3) – Became angry that God spared Nineveh and essentially told God that He was being too gracious. Jonah thought he knew better who should receive mercy.
- Zacharias (Luke 1:18–20) – Doubted the angel’s announcement that he and Elizabeth would have a child in their old age, resulting in temporary muteness as a sign.
- Martha (John 11:21, 39) – Protested that Jesus’ delay led to her brother Lazarus’ death and doubted His plan to open the tomb, citing the stench after four days.
- Peter – rebuking Jesus (Matthew 16:22–23) – Refused to accept that Jesus would suffer and die, prompting Jesus to sharply correct him for setting his mind on human concerns rather than God’s plan.
- Peter – resisting the vision (Acts 10:14–15) – Questioned the vision instructing him to eat unclean animals, not realizing God was preparing him to preach to Gentiles.
- Ananias (Acts 9:13–14) – Questioned God’s command to visit Saul of Tarsus, bringing up Saul’s past of persecuting Christians and doubting the wisdom of the mission.
- Thomas (John 20:24–29) – Refused to believe Jesus had risen unless he could see and touch the wounds, earning him the nickname “Doubting Thomas” even though he later made a strong confession of faith.
- 101 broken people that God used anyway – Throughout the Bible, God demonstrates His love and grace by using broken and flawed people to accomplish His purposes.
- 101 ways God looks past our failures to see our potential – The Bible reveals how God looks beyond failures to see our potential, offering grace, redemption, and purpose to help us grow in faith.
Every one of these individuals had a moment of human limitation. The questioned, hesitated, doubted, and even wrestled with what God was doing. Yet, God didn’t abandon or reject them. Instead, He corrected, reassured, or redirected them in grace and truth. These accounts remind us that while God welcomes our honest questions, He also calls us to trust His wisdom above our own.
“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33)
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5–6)