We often come to the Bible searching for answers. Yet in many encounters with people who are seeking, we find God asking questions rather than offering quick solutions. These questions have the power to transform us – especially when they come from God, who knows exactly what to ask and when to ask it.
Throughout the month of January, Pastor Anel reflected on Questions God Asks Us. In John 1:35-45, Jesus asks His first disciples, “What are you looking for?” It is a question that still speaks into our lives today. Our desires can easily take over, leaving us restless, never quite satisfied, and always hoping that the next thing will finally fill the ache within us.
Another searching question appears in John 5:1-14, when Jesus asks a man who has been ill for many years, “Do you want to get well?” Many of us know what it feels like to be stuck – paralyzed by fear, habits, or long-standing patterns that keep us from living fully. This question is not only about healing, but about freedom: the freedom Christ offers, and the change, trust, and obedience it calls forth. As Galatians 5:1 reminds us, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.”
A third question is found in Exodus 4:1-5, when God asks Moses, “What do you have in your hand?” Moses feels inadequate and afraid, yet God does not give him something new. Instead, God chooses to use what Moses already has – a simple staff – to bring about change. This reminds us that, like Moses, we often feel unqualified and make excuses, but God invites us to place what we already hold into His hands: our skills, time, compassion, questions, faith, and even our weariness. Through ordinary people, small offerings, and simple willingness, God continues to do extraordinary work.