Growing up maybe we were all taught about God. Perhaps told about who He was and what He did, but often when a hard question arose, the answer was a blanket statement of sorts. Something like, "That's why we have to have faith." or "God's ways are higher." Etc.
Written on my grandma's shower curtain for as long as I can remember, the definition of faith read: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for. the evidence of things unseen. (Hebrews 11:1)" A tride and true answer to all of life's hard questions? I definitely don't think so. God doesn't either, since the rest of Hebrews 11 names a radical list of messed up people who worked out their salvation through messes, grief, hardships and lots and lots of questioning. "by faith Abel... Abraham... Noah.... Rahab... David... etc." knew that they couldn't just put a brave face on and walk in faith. They had to die to themselves, believe in the depths of their core that they were made for another world (see vs. 13), pick up their mustard seed faith and live in obedience to their creator. They had to have known, that "having faith" was worlds beyond just a feeling and their experiences would have led them there.
My oldest son is by nature a questioner. And let me tell you, I freakin adore it. He asks the silliest and also the deepest questions his 3-year old brain can muster (Usually/conveniently for him right before bed). He has zero self doubt that asking these things would change my love or perspective of him- and he's so right to feel this way. From, "Is there a baby growing in your butt mom?" to "Why can't I see God? If I put this box up really high, will God be in it?" to "Did that butterfly have to be brave to come out of his cocoon?" "Does God go to work day? (How he refers to Josh and I going to work) all the way to "Why don't you have a penis mom? I should buy you one so you can be like me and Zekie and daddy."
I smile. I ponder a moment and soak in his sandy brown hair and eyes that have a color of their own and I thank him for asking such good questions. Then I attempt to answer him. If I can!
As he get's older, I don't want to be a mom that responds to his deep heart questions with "Just have faith", "because I said so" or even, "because the Bible says so." May I have the confidence in the depth of God's character to travel down an inquisitive road with my boys. When their questions become the ugly kind of hard that our culture is currently cultivating, I pray I can guide them to truth and self enlightenment. Not "their truth" but The Truth. Truth who is a man named Jesus. John 14:6 says "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Notice He doesn't say, I speak the truth or I know the truth! But, "I am the Truth."
My pappy Nick... (pause to smile and giggle-He was just the best). What an amazing man of character he was. He taught the teen group at our church growing up. He was a type B personality to the fullest. He enjoyed "getting lost" for fun, never hid his thoughts, but always did everything he did with the fullest heart of love. There were many Sunday School lessons where he invited us (a group of confused and restless teenagers) to ask him anything! This was also known as, he didn't have a plan for Sunday School sooo let's just talk. We loved it!
how bold of my Pap right? To ask a room full of teenagers to ask him anything?! I do not have that confidence, but he did, and we would! Looking back, I know he didn't have all the answers. Sometimes his answers were straight up wrong! But, he also invited us to open our Bibles to read answers clearly given or use inferencing skills and prayer to determine a possible solution. Either way, he wasn't afraid of our questions and he taught us that neither was God. He encouraged us that asking hard questions would make us love and trust God more.
Doubting Thomas. The worst nickname given to him by his haters not his God. He doubted, he asked the questions everyone else in the room was wondering. And Jesus simply responded to him with proof. He didn't just show him His scars, He allowed Thomas to touch them. To feel the depth of who his creator was. It was in Thomas' doubts that his faith was made whole.
As my babies turn into children who sit under teachers, I never want them to take someones words as truth. I want them to ask hard questions! I want their souls to crave knowledge and wisdom and I pray with all I have within me that they will allow their hearts to
be totally awed by Christ. That they would proclaim Jesus as their Lord and Savior. I know that this won't come easy, but I also know that this faith I have can withstand the hottest flames this world of confusion can throw.
And, maybe it all starts with celebrating his inquisitive spirit. Maybe it all starts with exploring my own curiosities and knowing why I believe what I do. What I do know is that God loves the inquisitive children that He made.
Love always,
Jessica