Questions, Questions, Questions.  Questions can be good, useful tools or they can be tormenting weapons of doubt and unbelief that bring confusion and distress as we face life’s challenges. Swirling questions of “who are you?” “Why do you think you can do this?” are tormenting questions; these are not of God.   

A few months ago God began to talk to me about the role of questions in the life of believers.   Darryl and I were invited to go and see a piece of property in New Hampshire.  We met a fellow who had purchased this property over 20 years ago.  Not too long after he purchased it, he felt the Lord say to him, “This isn’t for you, but it is for my servants.”  So, with a desire to help him decide what to do with it, we ventured off.  It was a beautiful autumn day, just right for exploration.  The property owner, Charlie, told us there was a beautiful view at the top of the ridge, so we set off.  He was right!  This property was beautiful, but not easily accessible.  So I began to really ask the Lord, “How can this be developed?  How, Lord?”  God began to speak very clearly to me.  “You are asking the wrong question.  The question should not be, “How”, but who and why?” When Charlie has a clear understanding of who this is for and understands the purpose (the why) for the land, the development of this property will be simplified.  

The Lord continued talking with me about the problems of starting with the “how”, when we want to move ahead in our life or ministry.  He immediately brought to mind two different scriptures.  The first scripture He brought to my mind was Mary’s response to Gabriel when he told her she was going to have a baby.  “Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”  Mary went quite naturally to the practical.  I am not married, I have no husband as of yet, and how can I possibly have a baby?  The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. Mary released her faith and said, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.  What an excellent response.  Father, I don’t understand it, but may everything you have said about my life come true.  Show me how to walk this out.  The angel gave her the next step by connecting her life to Elizabeth’s.  God wants to help us with our hows as well.  As we listen, pray and seek Him, He will show us our next step.  Sometimes, life doesn’t seem this simple. That is when we find ourselves in fear and confusion.

The second scripture God brought to me was when the prophet Elisha was in a town named Dothan.  His enemies surrounded the town.  Elisha was at peace, but his servant was fearful and afraid.  He got up early one morning and was confronted by troops, horses and chariots everywhere, according to 2 Kings 6:15.  “Oh, sir, what do we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha, or as the King James Version says, “Alas, my master, how shall we do?”  I think he is not alone in those very thoughts.  At the bottom line we often wonder, “Alas, my Lord, how shall we or I do, in this situation?”  

Every beginning journalism student knows the importance of covering the who, what, where, when and why questions in their story.  When faced with situations that stretch us beyond our capacity we must go back to the who..  Who is in charge here?  Who is calling us upward and onward?  Who is putting these dreams in our hearts to forge ahead?  It was Elisha’s obedience to the Lord that put him in the situation of having the Arameans surrounding him.  Elisha knew that God was taking care of him, and he was at peace.  When the young servant came to him in fear, Elisha calmly said,“Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!”  The servant had been staring at the enemy all around them, and I am sure he thought, ‘What can Elisha mean?’  Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” So many times we need our eyes opened to see from God’s vision. This allows us to see His provision for our situation. If our eyes become bound to the “how” we will not be able to see the ‘who’-- our God.  The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. 2 Kings 6:17

So what happens when we ask the wrong question?  Especially, the “Alas, master, how shall I be?” “ How-does-this-affect-me” type of questions lead us away from the Lord, not to Him.  They lead us into fear and worry, adding anxiety and stress, which complicates hearing from the Lord His solution and plan.  Coupled with our own condemning heart, wrong questions can become sources of torment.  The how questions move into the “why” questions.  Why should you start that new ministry or enlarge your business?  Who are you, after all?  Why should God answer your prayers for healing, finances, promotion etc. because look at how you have failed Him.

God clearly spoke to me that day, walking on Charlie’s property, that I was starting with the wrong question.  I believe the Lord desires to help us ask the right question at the right time. The how question left me feeling small and inadequate (even though it wasn’t even something I was going to be involved with!).  It left me overwhelmed and confused.  The who question and the purpose or why at this time question, began to inspire and motivate me.  I could see tired pastors and leaders coming to this beautiful place and being refreshed.  I could envision leaders gathering together to seek the Lord and find direction and insight.  As I shared these things with Charlie afterward, it brought him peace as well.  The how question still must be answered, but it can only be answered from a place of faith, not fear and inadequacy.  If God has a “who” in mind, He will give wisdom for the how. So it is in each of our lives.  God has a who for you to reach.  He has a how for it to succeed.  He has a why that is clearly stated in His word—that He might be glorified.  He moves in His own season, answering the “when’s”.  He likes immediately, He also moves in the ‘nows’, and he also likes us to wait.  In other words, we must seek Him as individuals.   He will be found of us and we can trust Him to lead us into all His good and wonderful ways.

Father, I ask that you help us to ask the right questions.  Teach us how to seek you for wisdom and insight.  You are Lord of our life and we trust you. Amen.