I was a little offended (just a little) by a remark made during a service I attended recently about questions asked by youths. I understand that not all services might be the right place to ask questions due to time constraints or how prepared the speaker is. But when the teaching allows for questions related to the topic—especially ones that have been asked repeatedly without satisfactory answers—it’s discouraging to be labeled as rebellious.
Why is asking questions often deemed problematic or rebellious? When I ask a question, it’s not because I want to waste anyone’s time or challenge their authority. Rather, I’m asking because I genuinely want to learn, to understand your perspective, and to gain insight. Asking follow-up questions doesn’t mean I don’t believe you—it simply means I don’t understand. (God knows how many times different people, books, and computers have tried to explain statistics to me, and yet I still don’t grasp the logic behind it.)
If you see me stop asking questions or just soaking everything up like a sponge, it means I’ve given up—not because I’ve learned something, but for the sake of peace.
The question was this: Since God knows everything, why doesn’t He prevent things from happening in the first place? Many answers were given, but none of them truly touched the core of the question.
Why would God create a person knowing they would misuse their free will and end up in hell? Or, going further back, why did God create Lucifer, knowing he would betray heaven and drag humanity along with him?
It’s a question I myself have struggled with for a while but after a quick session with ChatGPT and some scriptural digging, I came across a response that gives me peace:
God knows everything—past, present, and future—because He exists outside of time and sees all things at once. However, He allows certain events and tests in our lives not because He needs to know the outcome, but so that we can grow, see what’s in our hearts, and learn from these experiences. These moments help us build faith, trust, and character, showing us areas where we can depend on Him more deeply.
Even when we don’t understand why something happens, we can trust that God is working for our good and His bigger plan. Just like a loving parent allows their child to face challenges to grow stronger, God uses tests to guide us toward becoming the person He created us to be. While His knowledge is perfect, His love and purpose are always for our ultimate good (Jeremiah 29:11).
God allows things to happen not because He needs to learn anything—He already knows everything—but because we need to learn and grow through those situations. Challenges and tests reveal what’s in our hearts, strengthen our faith, and teach us to trust Him more deeply. They help us become the people God created us to be, growing in character, wisdom, and dependence on Him (James 1:2-4).
Ultimately, God’s plan is about shaping us for a greater purpose and drawing us closer to Him. Even when we don’t understand why certain things happen, we can trust that His love and wisdom are working for our good and His glory.
The reality of the devil and hell is a difficult and sobering topic, but it’s important to view it within the context of God’s justice, love, and respect for human free will. God desires all people to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4) and makes salvation available to everyone through Jesus Christ. However, He doesn’t force anyone to choose Him because true love requires freedom. Those who end up in hell are those who willingly reject God’s offer of grace and choose to live apart from Him.
God’s omniscience means He knows who will reject Him, but He still gives everyone the opportunity to respond to His love. Rather than overriding their choices, He allows them to exercise free will. While it’s heartbreaking, this reflects both God’s justice—honoring their decision—and His love—offering every chance to turn to Him. Hell isn’t about God’s desire for people; it’s about their decision to reject His invitation to eternal life with Him.
So, depending on how we approach the question, we can either see God as the “bad guy” or as someone with endless love, patience, and mercy.
At the end of the day, the goal is heaven, right? To live eternally with God in heavenly bliss. When God says He knows the plans He has for us are good, the condition is that we remain in relationship with Him, with Jesus being the way, the truth, and the life—for those who believe in Him (John 3:16).
We can still argue that since God knows who will reject Him, why create those particular people? But ask yourself this: why shouldn’t He create them?
Look at it this way: God created everyone and gave us the choice to do what we want with our lives. He has shown us the finish line and promised a trophy for us. Instead of complaining about not asking to be placed in the race or not caring about the trophy, shouldn’t we focus on surviving the training and making it to the finish line?
He never asked us to be first—He only wants us to finish so we can enjoy the afterparty together (1 Peter 1:6-7).
God created us because He knows how good the afterparty is, and He wants everyone to be part of it. Sadly, not everyone will accept the invitation. But He does His due diligence—invites everyone, provides transportation, and opens the door. No one can say He didn’t try. The choice is ours.
Yes, we go through trials, but these challenges toughen us up, strengthen our trust in Him, and prepare us to rest with Him after the race.
Rest is satisfying only after labor. Lying in bed too long leads to bedsores, dead muscles and lower brain activity. Exercise is necessary for the body to function properly. This race is like exercise—it’s not always fun, some people are better at it than others, some may injure themselves and drop out, but ultimately, it’s good for us.
Knowledge is power—but the kind of knowledge we seek matters. Please don’t discourage young people from seeking the truth. Instead, guide them positively. If you don’t know the answer during a discussion, admit it. Repeating scriptures without proper explanation and guidance doesn’t help. Breaking down complex ideas into simple terms can make a big difference.
There’s no point in Christ centered gatherings if people aren’t allowed to ask questions and are branded as rebellious for doing so. Curiosity is natural; I’d be more worried if no one asked questions. It’s hard for anyone to accept answers when they don’t sound logical which usually leads to more questions and silencing people for the sake of avoiding arguments is not the solution either.
To my fellow misunderstood youths: I know most of us ask questions out of curiosity, not rebellion, even if others see it that way. Keep seeking the truth, understanding God, praying and studying the scripture as much as you can but make sure your heart is in the right place and you’re doing it for the right reasons. We will never be able to fully understand God, but we can try our best to live the way He’d be proud of (Isaiah 55:8-9). Unbelievers will ask us these same questions we try to avoid, and if we don’t know the answers or at least attempt to, it becomes hard to refute ignorant claims and even evangelize properly. Stay curious, stay grounded, and keep learning.
Stay Blessed x
