No Easy Answers: Trusting God When Nothing Makes Sense

[PIC] Sharing "No Easy Answers" at the WQA Summit, September 20, 2025

[Day 3 of the 21-Day Missions Prayer Guide]

Scripture

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18

Reflection from Korea

In Korea, we saw a nation marked by hospitality, cleanliness, safety, and a strong Christian presence. Charlie Kirk remarked on these same qualities just days before his assassination, calling Korea a model of a “high-trust society.”

On September 6th, Kirk addressed thousands of young Koreans at the Build Up Korea 2025 forum. He spoke of our shared convictions concerning faith, family, and freedom, arguing there were striking parallels between current issues in the U.S. and those in Korea.

As our team traveled, we saw firsthand the deep gratitude many Koreans still hold for Western missionaries who helped shape their nation’s spiritual foundation, and for the U.S.A.–South Korea alliance that preserved their freedom during the Korean War.

Amid that collective sense of grief and gratitude, one of the most moving moments at the Worship Quest Academy Summit was when I shared a teaching on Worship, Lament, and Faith in the Face of Tragedy, accompanied by my song No Easy Answers. The emotional response of the attendees was touching. At its deepest, worship helps us simultaneously express both lament and hope, affirming that we can still trust God—especially when nothing makes sense.

👉 Listen to the song No Easy Answers

Wrestling with Theodicy

No Easy Answers tackles the perplexing theological dilemma of theodicy, which asks the troubling question:

If God is good and all-powerful, why does He allow evil, tragedy, and suffering?

In my own seasons of loss, grief, and bewilderment, the most honest explanation I’ve heard from theologians was simply: “I don’t know.”

And that’s the point—there are no easy answers. The song was born in a time when tragedy pressed in on every side: two fathers in my youth ministry killed in car accidents, my wife diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer, close friends battling cancer, and a mass suicide followed by a mass shooting filling the news cycle.

One afternoon, exhausted and overwhelmed, I fell asleep like Job, seeking understanding. In the fog of that vexing grief came the raw realization:

“There are no easy answers.”

From Pain to Praise

So what do we do when faced with unexplainable tragedy, irreconcilable pain, and unforgivable evil? 

We redirect our pain back to praise.

The psalms of lament show us that grief, confusion, and even protest can become worship when we bring them honestly to God. David cried, “My tears have been my food day and night” (Psalm 42:3), yet he resolved that, “I will yet praise Him” (Psalm 42:5).

Lament is not resignation to faithlessness. It is worship that helps us trust while walking through the valley of the shadow of death.

Jesus promised that God is trustworthy: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me” (John 14:1).

We always have a choice to believe what our eyes cannot see. This is the heart of the song’s chorus:

Given the choice between faith and hopelessness,

love and bitterness,

hope and despair—

I believe what my eyes cannot see.

That God is good all the time.

All the time God is good.

The Missionary Enterprise: Faithful Resilience

For missionaries and disciple-makers, suffering and disappointment come with the territory. As Scott Sunquist reminds us, “Christian mission is our participation in the suffering and glory of Jesus Christ for the redemption of the nations.”

That’s why conversations about lament, loss, and trust are vital when training and equipping disciples—especially in the realm of worship leadership.

Facing hardship honestly before God builds the resilience and faithfulness disciples need. No Easy Answers points us back to this truth: our worship can bear witness to God’s goodness, even when life makes no sense.

Today’s Prayer: Turning Pain Into Praise

Lord, Your nearness is our good. Be near to all who are grieving, lamenting, or in pain. May they encounter the faith, hope, and love that only come from You, our Almighty, all-loving God. We pray for genuine revival in spirit and in truth. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Real-Time Update (September 23)

The past few days in Korea were so full of ministry that I was barely able to sleep, much less write! Thank you for praying for us—your prayers make all the difference. The impact here was significant, and my health has been good, thanks be to God!

I’m writing this on the plane from Seoul to Munich to Athens—a 28+ hour journey. Praise God for internet on airplanes! Over the next few days I hope to share some catch-up devotionals from Korea before shifting to updates from Greece.

The Lord be with you all!