Sometimes the hardest questions to ask are the most important ones. And if someone continually avoids our questions, it’s natural to grow suspicious.
We might begin to think “do my questions make this person insecure?” or “does my probing make them afraid because they have something to hide?” Perhaps we just wonder if they think they’re above questioning.
When we’re in jobs, relationships, or religious spaces where questions are received like accusations, it’s easy to shut down or feel small. Avoided questions can make us feel as though we’re left to choose between conforming or leaving.
But when did questions become a bad thing? And aren’t some things in life so important we’d be foolish not to ask?
Jesus wasn’t afraid of questions. He had a posture that showed anyone—male and female, rich and poor, young and old, powerful and weak—could ask him anything. Even loaded questions. Especially loaded questions.
Jesus often responds with questions of his own, pushing people to look deeper into what they seek. He welcomes doubt rather than punishing it. From the Gospel stories, there’s a sense Jesus doesn’t expect people to have it all figured out, and he knows questions are part of the journey.
Questions make us human, and our most compelling questions—Do I matter? Is there anyone out there? Is all of our suffering a cosmic punishment?—deserve an answer. What if Jesus welcomes our toughest inquiries? We can ask him anything.
Why not give it a try?
Take a moment to reflect. What are the deepest questions of your heart? Then, just ask him.
According to Jesus, an answer will come. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8, NIV)