Questions

James 1:5 - If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

John 16:12 - I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.

One of the worst feelings in life (for me) is when I have a very important question that goes unanswered. The absence of understanding, when the question is tearing at you from the inside out. When you have a conviction about something so deep that the absence of an answer stands in direct opposition of everything inside of you. The overwhelming feeling of "undone". Not finished or incomplete. Times when unanswered questions seem to leave holes in truth as you know it. Questions that leave you questioning what you believe even. I question how I am going to write an idea every time I begin writing. Because I am not a writer, I have never done this! I did not study the art of writing or whatever you would call it. But I am coming to the conclusion in my own life that great questions (answered or unanswered) lead to great purpose.

The most purpose driven life is the one living in the shadow of Christ!

Questions are not bad. Neither are answers. But how many of you know that questions aren't always good, and neither are answers. It is the weight and gravity of a "need to know" that pushes us to the edge of a cliff. Interestingly enough, Jesus taught in parables and metaphors. And as I read his teachings (some of which still confuse me) I wonder what many others probably wonder: "Why didn't He just say it plainly?" Like come on Lord! Talk to me like I'm a three year old! I wanna get this stuff! But there were times He did. And they still didn't understand. The greatest of such questions is "why?" The question of all questions maybe. I have to wonder what it would have been like to walk away from my life as I knew it, and follow Jesus every day for a few years. See all the crazy things He did. Be given power to go out and do some of the same. Start putting pieces together in the conviction of my heart that this man is truly God in the flesh. And then watch Him be hauled off to die on a cross. The whole while knowing He could have done something! Anything! But surrendered Himself to it. What do you do when you leave everything you know to follow something that looked so promising. Too good to be true. Beyond your wildest dreams! Just to watch it all turn for the worse and shatter to pieces. Things that shaped our identity, filled us with a sense of inspiration and life. Things that we loved with all of our being!

Why?....

At the beginning of every story lies a plot. A point. A conclusion. Questions are the same. The only difference is, some get answered. Some do not. And it's learning how to live in spite of either scenario. I have always held the belief that Jesus knew almost everything (except the end of the age, as He said only The Father knew). But when He was hanging on the cross, He cried out "Father why have you forsaken me?" And more interesting to me is that He knew all along He was going to die in that fashion. So why the why? It was as if He only knew "so much" about how that was all going to transpire, yet He seemed to have all wisdom and understanding prior. In my life, I have come to two conclusions so far. And again, I want to emphasize how deeply I hate the lack of understanding when I feel it is paramount to understand.

My first conclusion is that questions lead us to our purpose. And understanding the nature, of the purpose of Christ in us is just short of everything. I will have to write another post on that subject. But that is why I believe Paul said "Christ in us the hope of Glory". Whose glory? The Fathers Glory! Why? Because of who He is and what His Kingdom represents. So when we become imitators of Christ, we are acting as His shadow so to speak. Our purpose is the same as His. To show a dark and broken world; life, love, and hope! Or as Bill Johnson would say "Jesus one step program: out of darkness into light". Questions will always lead us to our purpose, even when it seems like our life is furthest from.

And this is where my second conclusion comes into play. Trust. Questions bring us to a place of needing God for answers we don't have, or strength to move past answers we won't get. Hence Proverbs 3:5. "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and lean not on your own understanding". I think we could all agree that there are things we are just not meant to know this side of Heaven. I'm not saying unanswered questions are easy. In fact they are the worst! I'd rather suffer any tragedy and have closure, than suffer it and not know "why?" That goes for anyone's tragedy. Or just all the bad and messed up stuff in general that seems so senseless. And while we know God knows everything. And He knows why we don't get the answers sometimes, trusting Him anyway can (most) definitely get us beyond it.

I am not sure that this is even very helpful. But I felt in my heart that The Lord prompted me to remind those of you who feel "lost" because you have more questions than answers. And He cares about that. The absence of the one thing you feel you need that you know He could give you may seem harsh. But know that answers don't always change things. It's still no guarantee. And more importantly know that God never withholds good. It is against who He is. And He always cares. We don't always see it that way because our understanding of what we think "good" is, is vastly different than what it "really" is. And over the timeline of your life, the absence of what you may see as good is provision for calamity in your future. There are so many ways and reasons for God's reason. But this I can promise you, His design and purpose for your life is far better than anything you could ever imagine! And if you trust Him regardless of unanswered questions, He will lead you beyond it to your Promised Land. Abraham went out at The Lord's command not knowing where he was even going. No map, no directions. And he landed right where he needed to be.

The last thing I want to say is that questions are not bad. It's ok to ask questions. It's ok to pursue understanding and wisdom. I think we do far too little of it (to be honest). But don't let the absence of answers create prisons you can't get out of. And never listen to a lie from the devil. Because he will use your frustration to turn you against God. Never let the devil steal your trust in Him. And never let him rob you of your great calling and purpose.