Guest Post from Pastor Jennifer:
Two years ago, I had a phone conversation with Ann Espey Smith, a missionary to Japan and Christian leader known for her wisdom. Ann has a reputation for asking, “Can I share with you what I am learning from the Lord?” She excitedly told me that her book, What If? 125 Questions to Discover More about Life and Faith, was about to be released. The book consists only of questions to prompt reflection. At 99 years of age, her continued curiosity and desire to learn made a deep impression on me.
Asking questions is key to growth and learning. As a mother of four, I field questions of all kinds daily. My work as a medical researcher has also taught me that asking good questions is a skill – and the first step towards finding answers.
Questions feature prominently in Scripture, too. The Psalms express wonder, struggle, and lament through questions that resonate across generations. Jesus used questions as a teaching tool and encouraged His followers to “ask, and it will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7). James reminds believers that “if any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God” (James 1:5).
Asking questions requires humility. It means recognizing our limited knowledge and understanding. Sincere questions about God and faith also reveal a hunger for truth. They can be an important first step toward spiritual growth.
My own faith journey has been marked by questions. As a teenager, I began seeking deeper answers to truths I had always taken for granted. Is Jesus the only way to God? Is the Bible reliable? Having grown up immersed in biblical teaching as a pastor’s daughter, I wondered whether it was acceptable to ask such questions. Yet asking them led me to discover important truths – and to Jesus, who Himself is the Answer to our deepest questions.
For two decades, I’ve taught God’s Word to youth and young adults. Drawing on my own experience, I have encouraged them to ask honest questions and search Scripture for truth. What a blessing it has been to discover and rediscover the truths of the Bible alongside them!
So, I’ll leave you with a question –
What is the Lord teaching you in this season?