Questions and Answers

You might be thinking to yourself, “Why did she choose to post this picture? What does this have to do with her front porch and devotionals?” You might also be thinking, “Where has she been and why hasn’t she been posting any devotionals?” I’m glad you asked. I’m also glad that you’re still here asking questions. Grab your coffee and settle in, we have some catching up to do.

Whether we say it out loud or not, there are times in all of our lives when we question so much of what is going on in our lives. We question if we are doing what we are called to do and question if we would even know if we were called to something. We question our words, our thoughts, our actions and reactions. We question our emotions, our sensitivity or callousness. We question what we are doing in life, if it is making a difference, a difference in our lives, in the lives of those around us and in the lives of others we may never meet. We even question God. We question his ways, his plans for us and our family, his ‘rules’. We question why he lead us to a certain situation and if he knew he was calling us to it and not someone else.

So welcome to the thoughts bouncing around in my mind. Now, I’m not sharing this with you to do anything other than let you all know you are not alone in those thoughts and that you do not have to hide from them. We’re all human, as were the characters in the Bible stories we have read. So many of them questioned God:

David, in Psalm 6, questioned God how long his soul would be in anguish, “My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long? (Psalm 6:3).

Rebekah went to God when her twins were fighting in her womb, and asked him why that was happening to her, “The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, ‘Why is this happening to me?’ So she went to inquire of the LORD.” (Genesis 25:22).

Moses questioned the Lord when he saw the people suffering, asking him if that is why the Lord sent him, “Moses returned to the LORD and said, ‘O LORD, why have you brought trouble upon this people? Is this why you sent me?'” (Exodus 5:22).

The elders of Israel questioned God, “When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, ‘Why did the LORD bring defeat upon us today before the Philistines?…” (1 Samuel 4:3)

Jeremiah questioned God, “You are always righteous, O LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why the the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all of the faithless live at ease?” (Jeremiah 12:1)

Actually if you read through the Old Testament you will notice that several others bring there questions to God. And that’s the key point here, they had questions…and took their questions to God.

We need to take these questions to God. If we don’t and we just let them loose in our minds they will take on a life of their own. They will grow, evolve and change from the original questions we had. That’s when doubt sets in. We doubt what we were called to do, we doubt if what we are doing makes a difference and we can start to doubt God and his Word. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” God is telling us to go to him with our questions. He is telling us he will not find fault in us when we ask him our questions and that he will give us the wisdom for those questions.

I know this verse, I have read this verse and I am sure I have shown others this verse, however I did not turn to this verse when I found myself questioning why God placed this blog post in front of me. I didn’t go to him to seek the answers. I just assumed I knew the answers from what my eyes could see and what I perceived to be the truth. I started to doubt that these posts were reaching anyone and that they weren’t helping anyone. I doubted they were making a difference in other’s lives. I mean, isn’t that the reason God would want me to write these posts? So I found myself having a hard time writing. A day turned into two, turned into a week, turned into a month.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)

If there is anything I have learned from my years of walking with God it is that he will show you what you need to see in ways that speak directly to you. Sometimes it is the words of a song, a powerful verse, the beauty of a sunrise, the right words from a friend at the exact moment you need them. God knew I wasn’t coming to him with my questions, so he came to me with the answers to the questions I wasn’t asking. The moment was gentle, peaceful and oh so humbling. It opened my heart to what God is really trying to do with the words that I type. I am still in awe of how God orchestrated the whole encounter and I will not soon forget it.

I learned today that your words, your stories if you will, help others more than you know. Yes, there are quiet, private moments that are meant to be just between you and the Lord. Those are special moments to treasure up in your heart. Even Jesus had quiet moments alone with his Father,

“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him in the other direction while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came he was there alone.” (Matthew 14: 22-23)

However, God also gives you moments that can help others in their lives. You might not even know that they need to hear your words, your moments, your stories. The Apostle Paul wrote: “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice…” (Philippians 4:9). He was teaching the new church at Philippi and was using his life as examples. Later he wrote this following passage to Timothy, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Timothy 2:2) He was telling Timothy to take what he heard Paul say and teach others with his words.

The apostle Paul knew that he needed encouraging words from those around him as well, “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gifts to make you strong – that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” (Romans 1: 11-12). While he was teaching the churches, and leading them by the examples of his own ups and downs, he knew that he needed them. He needed their words, their lives, their examples to encourage him on. We need this. Each and everyone of us needs this gift….the gift of others words.

I didn’t know my words were reaching others. I didn’t think they were helping anyone. I forgot to trust God with those words. I forgot that he could reach those that needed to hear exactly what was posted. He alone knew who needed those words, which, quite frankly, were his words to begin with, not mine. I also forgot to lean on others for encouragement in those times of questioning. God knew….God knows. He knew that the peaceful moment he orchestrated would be an unending blessing. He also knew that a beautiful, heartfelt picture of a rainbow would be a colorful reminder of what he placed before me…before you.

My prayer for you is that as you go through your day you are aware of the moments that God orchestrated for you to be in. May your words be blessings to others that need to hear your encouragement. May you be blessed by others’ words as well, that their stories, their trials and triumphs help you through your life. I pray that God will place words on your lips and in your heart that need to be spoken to the exact person who needs to hear them…and that the same happens to you. May God encourage you to share yourself, even if it doesn’t seem to help. May he continue to move in and through your life in ways you never thought possible.

See you on the front porch.