Rev. Dr. Troy Troftgruben
To Ponder: “We may wish for answers, but God rarely gives us answers. Instead, God gathers us up into soft, familiar arms and says, ‘Let me tell you a story’” (Rachel Held Evans, Inspired).
Reflection:
We often want clear answers from God to our questions. But God in Christ is less interested in answers than journeys of discernment.
In our text, John asks Jesus a question. It’s a straightforward one. It invites one of two answers. Jesus could have responded with a word—and John would have been happy.
But Jesus doesn’t do that. Instead, he recounts recent events, inviting John to consider: “Here is what’s happened. What do you think?”
I’ve experienced similar responses to my questions. I routinely ask God for answers—often by “yes/no” questions. I rarely get easy answers. Most often, I am prompted to consider scripture, recent events, and others’ input. Instead of answers, I sense an invitation to engage God in prayer and the Holy Spirit in discernment.
In the Gospels, Jesus loves questions far more than answers. After all, questions begin conversation; answers end it. Questions start new journeys; answers often stop them.
If Jesus doesn’t answer your questions quickly, don’t be offended. He’d rather start a journey with you than end it.
Prayer: O God of our Lord Jesus Christ, lead us in discernment as we strive to journey faithfully, to hear the voice of your Holy Spirit, and to embrace your presence. Amen.
Rachel Held Evans, Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again (Santa Rosa, CA: Thomas Nelson, 2018), p. 41.