Why Does God Hide Things From Us?

Oct 26, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: Trusting God When Answers Are Hidden

There are times in life when God chooses not to reveal the reasons behind our trials or sorrows, and we may never receive an explanation for the hardships we face. Yet, in these moments, we are called to trust in His sovereignty and goodness, knowing that His ways are higher than ours and that He is always working for our good, even when we cannot see it. When we focus on God rather than our unanswered questions, our faith is strengthened and our hearts are drawn closer to Him. [57:16]

2 Kings 4:27 (ESV)
And when she came to the mountain to the man of God, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came to push her away. But the man of God said, “Leave her alone, for she is in bitter distress, and the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me.”

Reflection: What is one situation in your life right now where you are seeking answers from God but have not received them? How can you choose to trust Him today, even without understanding?

Day 2: God’s Sovereignty Over the Secret Things

God alone holds the secret things, and He does not owe us an explanation for everything He allows or withholds in our lives. Accepting this truth frees us from bitterness and resentment, and helps us to adapt our lives to His will, resting in the assurance that He is wise, just, and loving in all His ways. [01:00:29]

Deuteronomy 29:29 (ESV)
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

Reflection: Is there an area where you have struggled to accept God’s sovereignty? What would it look like for you to surrender your need for answers and rest in His wisdom today?

Day 3: Confidence in God’s Character

Even when we are perplexed by suffering or loss, we can be persuaded of God’s unchanging character—He is always right, always just, and always loving, even when circumstances seem to say otherwise. Our confidence must rest not in our understanding, but in the truth that God will never do us wrong and will always act according to His perfect nature. [01:12:36]

Genesis 18:25 (ESV)
“Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”

Reflection: When have you doubted God’s goodness because of your circumstances? How can you remind yourself today that God’s character is trustworthy, even when life is hard?

Day 4: God’s Presence in Our Trials

There are seasons when God seems hidden and distant, but even then, He knows the way we take and is working to refine and perfect us through our trials. When we cannot see or feel God, we can trust that He is present, aware, and using every difficulty to increase our faith and value in His sight. [01:16:34]

Job 23:8-10 (ESV)
“Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him; on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.”

Reflection: Think of a recent trial where God felt distant. How might God be using this season to refine your faith and draw you closer to Him?

Day 5: Drawing Near to God for Revelation

While some things remain hidden, God delights to reveal Himself to those who seek Him with humility and closeness. As we draw near to God in prayer and fellowship, He may grant us understanding or peace that surpasses our questions, and we discover that knowing Him is greater than knowing all the answers. [01:18:30]

Psalm 25:14 (ESV)
“The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.”

Reflection: What is one practical way you can intentionally draw closer to God this week—through prayer, worship, or time in His Word—so that you might know Him more deeply, even if your questions remain?

Sermon Summary

Life is full of mysteries and unanswered questions, and often God chooses to hide certain things from us. In 2 Kings 4, the story of the Shunammite woman and Elisha reveals how even the most faithful servants of God are not always given insight into every sorrow or trial. Elisha, a prophet who had been told many things by God, was not shown the pain and loss the Shunammite woman was experiencing until she came to him. This reminds us that God, in His sovereignty, sometimes withholds knowledge for reasons that are beyond our understanding.

Job’s experience further illustrates this truth. After enduring immense suffering, Job confessed that some things are “too wonderful” for him to comprehend. There are divine plans and purposes that our finite minds simply cannot grasp. God does not owe us explanations, and our peace comes not from understanding every detail, but from trusting in His character and sovereignty. The secret things belong to the Lord, and we must learn to accept and adapt to this reality, lest we become bitter or resentful.

The Psalms echo the perplexity we feel when God seems distant or hidden, especially in times of trouble. We naturally want answers—why do bad things happen to good people, or why are some prayers seemingly unanswered? Yet, the Bible shows that even in the silence, God is present and working. Our confidence must rest not in our ability to understand, but in God’s unchanging goodness and wisdom.

There is also a prospect in hidden things: God sometimes reveals deep and secret things to those who draw near to Him. Intimacy with God, as seen in the lives of Peter and John, can bring clarity and revelation that others may not receive. However, even when answers are not given, God uses these hidden things to magnify His power, glorify His person, edify us through prayer, and purify our hearts.

Ultimately, the call is to trust God when we do not have answers. If He is big enough to save us, He is big enough to handle every problem and mystery we face. Our role is to remain confident in His love and character, content to walk with Him even when the path is unclear.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Hidden Purposes Are Beyond Our Comprehension There are aspects of God’s will and plan that are simply too wonderful and vast for us to understand. Like Job, we must recognize our limitations and humbly accept that some things are hidden because they are beyond our ability to grasp, not because God is unkind or indifferent. This humility leads us to deeper trust rather than frustration. [58:39]
2. Trust in God’s Character When Answers Are Absent When life’s trials bring confusion and pain, our confidence must rest in the unchanging character of God. He is always right, always just, and always loving—even when circumstances seem to contradict this. The judge of all the earth will do right, and our faith is anchored in who He is, not in our understanding of what He does. [72:36]
3. Acceptance and Adaptation Prevent Bitterness Learning to accept that God does not owe us explanations is crucial for spiritual health. If we demand answers or explanations for every hardship, we risk becoming bitter and resentful. Instead, adapting our lives to the reality of God’s sovereignty brings peace and keeps our hearts soft toward Him. [62:21]
4. Intimacy with God Brings Revelation, Not Entitlement While God may choose to reveal certain things to those who draw near to Him, this is not a guarantee or a right. Peter and John received special insight because of their closeness to Jesus, not because they demanded answers. True revelation comes from humble communion, not from pride or entitlement. [79:09]
5. God Uses Hidden Things to Purify and Perfect Us The trials and mysteries we face are not wasted; God uses them to refine our faith, deepen our prayer life, and increase our gratitude. Like gold purified by fire, our value and character are shaped through what we do not understand. Even when God is silent, He is present, working for our good and His glory.

** [77:14]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[44:15] - Special Music: “Sinner Saved by Grace”
[47:45] - Introduction to 2 Kings 4
[48:26] - The Shunammite Woman’s Story
[49:43] - The Child’s Death and the Mother’s Faith
[50:22] - Elisha’s Limited Knowledge
[52:14] - Why Does God Hide Things?
[53:29] - The Principle of Hidden Things
[57:16] - Job’s Perspective on God’s Mysteries
[59:50] - Focusing on God, Not the Problem
[61:07] - The Secret Things Belong to God
[62:21] - Accepting God’s Sovereignty
[63:32] - The Perplexity of Hidden Things
[68:41] - Confidence in God Amid Unanswered Questions
[72:36] - The Character of God in Suffering
[75:54] - God’s Consciousness of Our Trials
[77:14] - The Prospect of Revelation
[79:09] - Intimacy and Divine Revelation
[83:50] - The Purpose of Hidden Things
[86:20] - Contentment in Trusting God
[87:36] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading

2 Kings 4:13-37 (ESV)
(Story of the Shunammite woman, her son’s death, and Elisha’s response)

Job 42:1-6 (ESV)
(Job’s confession about things “too wonderful” for him to understand)

Deuteronomy 29:29 (ESV)
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

Observation Questions

In 2 Kings 4, what did Elisha say when the Shunammite woman came to him in distress, and what does this reveal about his knowledge of her situation? ([52:14])
According to Job 42:3, how does Job describe the things he does not understand? What does he mean by “things too wonderful for me”? ([58:39])
In Deuteronomy 29:29, what distinction is made between “the secret things” and “the things that are revealed”?
What actions did the Shunammite woman take after her son died, and how did she respond to Elisha? ([49:43])

Interpretation Questions

Why might God choose to hide certain things from even His most faithful servants, like Elisha? What does this suggest about God’s sovereignty? ([52:14])
How does Job’s response to his suffering and unanswered questions model humility and trust in God? ([58:39])
What are some dangers, according to the sermon, of demanding answers from God for every hardship we face? ([01:02:21])
The sermon mentions that intimacy with God can bring revelation, but not entitlement. What is the difference between seeking God for answers and seeking God Himself? ([01:19:09])

Application Questions

The sermon says, “God does not owe you an explanation.” When have you struggled with wanting answers from God? How did that affect your faith or attitude? ([01:02:21])
Think about a time when you felt God was silent or distant during a trial. How did you respond? Looking back, do you see any ways God was working even when you didn’t understand? ([01:15:54])
The Shunammite woman went straight to Elisha with her pain, even though he didn’t know what was wrong. Who do you turn to when you’re hurting or confused? Is there someone you need to reach out to for prayer or support this week? ([49:43])
The sermon warns that demanding answers can lead to bitterness. Are there areas in your life where you feel resentful toward God or others because of unanswered questions? What would it look like to begin accepting and adapting to God’s sovereignty in those areas? ([01:02:21])
The pastor said, “Our confidence must rest in the unchanging character of God.” What is one truth about God’s character that you need to remind yourself of right now? How can you practically anchor your heart in that truth this week? ([01:12:36])
The message highlights that God sometimes reveals “deep and secret things” to those who draw near to Him. What are some ways you can intentionally seek greater intimacy with God this month? ([01:19:09])
The sermon says God uses hidden things to purify and perfect us. Can you identify a recent trial or mystery in your life that God might be using to grow your faith or character? How can you cooperate with His work in that area? ([01:17:14])

Sermon Clips

“We better understand that truth in our life this morning that there are going to be things in your life that God is going to allow, God's going to plan that he's not going to give you an answer for. But what he will do is this. You say, "Well, I want God to explain it to me." You can't comprehend what God is doing.”

“You say, "I don't understand why God is doing this in my life." And let me just say that is absolutely right. You don't understand because we cannot always comprehend what God is doing. Here's what Job said. He said in verse four here, I beseech thee and I will speak.”

“He said this, I've heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye seeth thee. Wherefore I hoard myself and repent and dust and ashes. Can I just say the I hope we understand this this morning as he has that one reason God hides is so we'll quit focusing on our problems and start focusing on him.”

“The Bible says this, "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever that we may do all the words of this law." Understand this that the secret things belong to God.”

“There are a lot of things that are unknown in the spiritual world there's a lot of things we don't know when Elisha stood out in the valleys and he's looked around and he said uh the servant said Oh no, we're going to die. And he said, there's more with us than there are with the and he could not see that they were hidden from his eyes.”

“But yet we find this that he Elijah Elisha prayed and he said, "Lord, open his eyes that he may see." Uh, and the Bible said that he began to see a great innumerable host of angels that were camped around about them. Uh I'm telling there's a lot of things this morning uh that are hidden from our eyes uh and hidden from our knowledge.”

“All it recogniz is that God does not owe you an explanation. God does not have to tell you why he makes a choice or why he takes a course of life. That is God's business. I say this as well that we must learn not only to be aware of that, but we must learn to accept this truth.”

“If you don't learn to accept that truth, you will become bitter and you will become angry and resentful and you will live a life of misery because there's some things you say, "I don't know the answer to and I don't know all the answers to the problems of life and I don't know why God allows certain things."”

“None of us like hidden things do we? We want to know the answer. The Bible said here's some verses. Let me read to you. Psalm verse number 10 verse one. Why standest thou far off, oh Lord? Why hideest thyself in times of trouble? Psalm 13:1. How long willil thou forget me, oh Lord, forever?”

“Sometimes we may be perplexed in life. Why does God allow good things to happen to bad people but bad things to happen to good people? Why does God allow childhood diseases? Why do young people, young parents die, leave behind a small young family? and those cases have happened.”

“The devil will come up beside you and say, "If God really loved you, he wouldn't let you go through this. If God really cared about you, you wouldn't suffer like this. Uh you wouldn't have this illness. You wouldn't have this disease. Uh you wouldn't have this uh difficulty that you're dealing with, whatever that may be."”

“Even when Job didn't understand it, even though Job did not deserve it, yet Job still served God, still stayed faithful, and never got upset with God about that. So I say that the perplexity of hidden things.”

“Let me just say this. You got to understand his life is going to be full of unanswered questions. Jesus on the cross, he cried, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" And the father said nothing. Sometimes we're going to ask God why.”

“But that's when you got to have your confidence in God and say, "You know what, God? I don't know. But as long as though you slay me, though you take me out of this world, though you take me, slay me on this earth, take me to glory," he said, "I'm still going to trust God."”

“God is too wise, as has been said, to make a mistake. And he loves us too much to do us wrong. Amen. I'm tell you, whenever it happens, uh you can know this that whatever God puts in your life, he's right. Amen. Uh he's never wrong. Uh he's never wrong what happens.”

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What reasons does God have for hiding certain truths from us

How can trusting God's character sustain us through unanswered questions

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