Being Led by the Questions

Over the course of this week, we reflected on Jesus’ statement: “Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.” (Mt. 7:7)

Last summer I took an online business class through the Sloan School of Business called Inquiry Driven Leadership. It really raised my awareness about the power of developing curiosity and asking open questions. One of the key premises was that the quality of answers we receive in life, rise or fall to the level of the questions that are asked. And the kinds of questions we ask, the kinds of questions we hold on our hearts, shape who we are, what we think, and even how we act. 

I remember back in March of 2020, when we first got the sense that Covid was a serious threat, the Sunday before the shutdown, I said to my church, “It is highly unlikely that we, as a church will have to close our doors.” And I really thought there was no way that would happen. Well, on Tuesday of that same week, we got the news… And we did not meet together in person again for over four months. 

What I remember is that the jolt of being that wrong raised in me – and in our leadership – all kinds of questions: First and foremost, how can we still provide meaningful worship for our people when we can’t physically get there? How we can continue to connect and support each other while in isolation? If something like this caught us off guard as a church, what else are we vulnerable to? And then, even, what is it that truly binds us together? What’s at the heart of this community? What draws us? What makes this meaningful to us as human beings? 

I honestly believe that during a time of great uncertainty and unknowing, it was the questions themselves that led us through it… And those same questions have shaped our mission and ministry over the last few years.

Again today, I wonder what questions you are asking right now, about life, the world around you, about your faith. I pray that as you hold them in your heart, as you begin to live into them, may you trust that God who is good will lead you in the way. 

Jesus said ask…

Let us pray: Today, O God, we offer you our questions… And we invite you to meet us in the uncertainty. Meet us in our unknowing. Even as we are being led, grant us your grace and your healing presence; through Christ our Lord. Amen.