A Personal Question

How often do we remain silent, Lord?  Wondering about something, yet reluctant — perhaps even afraid — to open our mouths and ask a question?

A question we fear may reveal our ignorance.  Are we convinced this will “confirm” in someone else’s mind the destructive self-condemnations we ourselves have memorized?

“I’m not smart enough.”  OR  “I’m too stupid.”  OR  “I’ll never be good enough.”

Really?

“You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…”  (Psalm 139:13-14)

A question we fear may offend.  Is it because we have been told increasingly that certain topics are “off limits”… or might even be considered by some to be “hate speech”?

“Faith is a very personal thing, and should remain a very private thing.”

Really?

“What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, shout from the roofs… Whoever acknowledges Me before others, I will also acknowledge before My Father in heaven.  But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before My Father in heaven.”  (Matthew 10:27,32-33)

There was a question on my heart yesterday.  A Personal Question.  Was it a bold question, in light of the short time I had known this person?  Perhaps.  But, by Your Grace, I knew it was the right question at the right moment.

Before I asked this question, I asked the other person for permission to ask it.

“May I ask you a personal question?  I don’t mean to offend you in any way.”

A Personal Question.  Clearly not a superficial “small talk” kind of question.  A question that was meant to go beyond the surface… into the realm of The Important.

The response I got?  “Sure.”  So I asked A Personal Question… and it changed the course of our whole day together.

“Are you a Christian?

YES!   🙂

We were together eight hours.  These may have been the only eight hours we will spend together this side of Heaven.

We could have spent them talking about the weather, our hobbies, sports, or any number of topics that would have produced a mile-wide, inch-deep conversation.

Instead, we talked about LIFE — our lives and Your Life, Lord.

Faith journeys.  Loss of Loved Ones.  Childhood Wounds and Long-awaited Healing. Journeys from Disillusionment to Hope.  The Power of Your Word.  The Passion of Your Love.  The Certainty of Eternity with You.   And so much more

All because I asked A Personal Question.

What if I hadn’t, Lord?  What would I (we) have missed???

FEAR = False Evidence Appearing Real.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”  (Isaiah 41:10)

Thank You, Lord, for the courage to speak The Question…

… and for the blessing of The Answer!

Gratefully,

Abba’s Girl

2 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *