Kids have SO many questions. Recently, I was teaching in our children’s church when a little girl asked me why God hasn’t answered her prayer. Full disclosure- she was praying for a baby unicorn. Well, sort of a baby, but big enough that she could ride it without hurting it. (Her exact words.) She’s been taught that God listens when she prays. She wasn’t afraid to push back when it appeared she wasn’t being heard.
As mortifying as it might feel at times to be the one who has to provide an answer- I realize that little ones are growing with each question they ask.
Sadly, adults aren’t so upfront with our questions. We’ve been conditioned in almost every sphere of life- work, church, & school, to supply the correct answers and not ask questions. Unfortunately, in return, we miss out on the opportunity for growth.
Questions reveal a gap in our knowledge. As adults that gap is embarrassing. Children, on the other hand, aren’t so prideful. They are quick to understand that they don’t understand & they aren’t afraid to say it.
In Proverbs 2:3-5 Solomon tells his son:
3 yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
Solomon doesn’t tell his son to hide his lack of understanding, but instead to seek after it diligently. To cry out for it.
Obeying the Lord does not guarantee immediate wisdom or insight. There are a lot of questions to be asked. Thank God for welcoming our questions & meeting us in the gaps of our knowledge! For allowing us to cry out- Why does it feel like you aren’t listening when I pray? It’s questions like these, flowing from a humble heart, that deepen our knowledge of who God is. As we mature in the faith we learn to not just ask questions, but to ask better questions. The same little girl who once asked, Why isn’t God answering my prayer? matures into asking God, how would you have me pray?
The more we look to the Lord to bridge the gaps, the more we will mature in wisdom & ultimately Christlikeness. So, bring your questions to the Lord. Cry out for His wisdom. He has proven time & again that He is a faithful father who gives good gifts to his children when they humble themselves and ask.
Meditate
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! -Matthew 7:7-11
Taylor Johston
Taylor Johnston is a mother & Southern Illinois native. She is passionate about pointing people to Jesus. Taylor enjoys cake (but mostly just the icing part of the cake), ice tea & scavenging TJ MAXX for cute rugs.
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