Posts
An excerpt from the lyrics of "11 O'Clock Tick Tock" by U2...
We thought that we had the answers
It was the questions we had wrong
How many times do we search out answers in our lives? Do we believe that knowing the answers will help us get to where we want to be? How many conferences do we attend, how many books do we read, and how many messages and sermons do we listen to, trying to find the answers to the questions that race around in our heads?
What are we going to do? How are we going to get out of this mess? What do I need to do to get healed? Why can't I stop doing that? What is wrong with me? Why can't my life be normal? Why do I have to go through this? and so on, and so on...
Have you ever considered that the value of the answers to our questions are entirely dependent on the quality of the questions asked? If our questions are loaded with suppositions, how can we be sure those suppositions are correct? What if those suppositions are negative, does that somehow sabotage ourselves? If so, are there questions we can ask that have positive suppositions instead? Does it even matter?
Is it ok to question anything? everything? authority and leadership? the Bible? even God?
So where do all of these questions lead? Are there questions that exist that, when answered, provide us with solutions and outcomes that we desire? Do the questions that remain unanswered draw us to deeper fellowship and relationship with God and others?
Perhaps the questions only lead to more questions... I don't have the answers, and I'm not even sure I have the right questions! But I do know I am exactly where I am supposed to be, and I know God loves me - and that He likes me.
By the way, He likes you, too... He told me... ;-)
I'd love to hear what you think about this...
Jeff
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Questions and Answers...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
Well said Jeff, I came to a place a year ago last month that if I am not in a people group where I am given room to explore and ask questions, then I am probably not in the best growing environment.
This year I have realized that asking better questions is of more benefit than trying to find the answers to every question.
Maybe my Jewish brothers are onto something as they wrestle with the scriptures in the context of life, just as Jacob wrestled with the Angel of the LORD.
Thanks for the thoughtful post!
Michael -
I think you are right - I love the Jewish discussions - I forget what it is called, but I have witnessed a few thanks to some Jewish friends. Many questions, and few, if any, answers... but the questions are the ones that need to be asked...
God bless you.
Jeff
This is helpful to me: to focus on asking the right questions, instead of worrying about the answers I don't have.
Thanks
~David
David -
Thanks for the comments. I have really struggled with this in my life.
I used to think I had to have the answers, and that if I did, it would all work out, but it's kinda like a promise that never comes to be - hope deferred makes the heart sick.
And then, when I was crying out to God for an answer and He was silent, I felt impressed to ask Him "Are you going to tell me?" and softly I sensed Him saying "No". I asked "Why not?" and He responded "because you are asking the wrong question". I have never forgotten that day, and it impressed me and did something in my heart. I realized I didn't have to know the answers - for the first time.
Jeff
Sometimes, my questions include suppositions that are so very wrong. I assume something to be true, and it is so completely false that any answer would be irrelevant.
So I guess I am learning to be free and to have dangling questions that never get answered, but boy, do I have fun asking them and thinking about them and expanding the possibilities (or maybe just realizing how many possibilities there really are and how little I know). LOL
Jeff
Good thoughts, Jeff. I often wonder about those unanswered questions, whether we'll get all the answers in lump sum when we arrive into the presence of Jesus...or will we get to ask them one by one...or will the answers even matter at that point? Regardless, I've learned the value of asking questions, with or without answers.
Margy -
Thanks for posting. I kinda lean toward the "it probably won't matter" viewpoint. In His presence, somehow I think my questions will be kinda irrelevant, but I'm really looking forward to that day... ;-)
Jeff
Post a Comment