Chasing MeaningSample

Can the Crooked Be Made Straight?

Ecclesiastes 7:13-18 wrestles with one of life’s most honest and difficult questions: Can the crooked be made straight? Solomon challenges us to consider how we handle suffering, hardships, and the times in life that simply do not make sense.

The passage begins with a reminder of the sovereign goodness of God. In verses 13 and 14, Solomon calls us to “consider the work of God,” not just on the good days but also on the hard ones. This is the foundation of our hope: God is both in control and good, even when life feels crooked. Job 1:21 and Romans 8:28 remind us that God is always working for our good, even through loss or pain. When we do not have answers, the truth that God is sovereign and good becomes our anchor.

Solomon also exposes the deadly temptation to fix ourselves. In verses 15 through 17, he reflects on his “vain life” apart from God. Without trust in God's plan, we often fall into one of two traps: rigid self-righteousness or reckless self-indulgence. Either way, we try to fix what only God can restore. Solomon warns that this approach is not just unwise; it is destructive. We become consumed with self-help strategies, always attempting to straighten out our lives or the lives of those around us. In the end, it only leads to frustration and despair.

Yet there is hope for our crooked lives. In verse 18, Solomon urges us to “fear God.” This is not a call to panic but a call to trust. We are invited to place our full confidence in the Lord. John the Baptist, quoting Isaiah, declared that Jesus came to make the crooked straight (Luke 3:4-5). Through the cross, Christ entered our broken world to bring healing and redemption. He did not ask for the crooked cross to be made straight. Instead, He bore it for our sake. If God can use the cross for our salvation, then He can bring meaning, healing, and direction to the crooked places in our lives as well.

Would you change anything about your life? Or will you trust the One who can make all things new? The hope of the gospel is not that we escape suffering. It is the promise that through Christ, we are never without purpose, never without help, and never without hope. In Him, even the most difficult story can end with celebration and joy. As Revelation 21:4 reminds us, a day is coming when God will wipe away every tear, and sorrow, pain, and death will be no more.

Application Questions:

1. In what areas of your life are you struggling to see God’s goodness or control? Read Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 and reflect on what it means to “consider the work of God.”
2. Are there places in your life where you are trying to fix things yourself? What might it look like to surrender those to God?
3. Read Romans 8:28. How does this verse shape your view of current hardships or uncertainties?
4. How does the cross of Christ give you hope in your own "crooked" situations? Where do you need to trust Him more today?