“Why is that man homeless? What’s that noise? Why can’t I stay up late like you? How long until we get there? Why aren’t there any dinosaurs at the zoo?”
Why do kids ask so many questions? Do you know how many questions kids ask per day? Experts say about 450, depending on their age and environment.
But one thing is sure: kids asking questions is a healthy and important practice for their development. Asking questions is how they learn facts about this world. Asking questions is how their understanding develops a firm foundation of truth.
The religious leaders of the Jews and the Roman officials who arrested Jesus and put him on trial falsified charges made up to condemn him. They asked questions, too. The Bible says that they “questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching” (John 18:19).
Their questions, like those from a well trained lawyer, were meant to lead toward a verdict that they had already decided. The Bible says that they even blindfolded Jesus, struck him, spit on him, slapped him and then challenged, “So if you are God, can you tell us who did it?”
Jesus got tired of their questions, and in silence didn’t answer most of them. Not because they asked questions (Jesus loves that curiosity) but because they weren’t willing to accept his answers,.
Earlier in his teaching ministry, Jesus once said that grown ups should be more like children. Why? Because children trust the answers to their questions. When a 3-year-old asks, “What makes thunder?” and you say that it’s angels bowling in heaven, they’ll believe you. Because they trust you.
Can you trust Jesus—who gave his life for you? Can you trust Jesus—whose knowledge is supreme? Can you trust Jesus—who loves you eternally and will be with you forever? Can you trust Jesus—who took great pains and made extreme sacrifices to fulfill every prophecy’s detail about him, and still intends to keep his every Word to you.
Then stop putting Jesus on trial. You know the truth. Jesus is faithful. “The word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does” (Psalm 33:4).
Jesus is the real, absolute Truth. Jesus is the perfect Answer.
PRAYER: Dear Jesus, kids ask a lot of questions, because they trust the answers. Teach me to trust you like a child, to stop putting you on trial, and to accept your answers which are always perfect. Amen.
FURTHER MEDITATION: What does the truth really look like in your life? How can you tell if you are believing lies? Here’s a story and a book recommendation if you’re interested in more.
Ray was at a breaking point. Between work and family and travel and fixing things around the house, he was being ripped apart by too many responsibilities. It wasn’t just the busyness, however, or the over-scheduled calendar. It wasn’t what was going on around him, he realized, but rather what was going on inside of him.
He had so much to be thankful for, enjoyed so many moments with his family and friends, had a stable and successful career, but it wasn’t enough. It would never be enough. He always felt the pressure to balance it all perfectly and perform better and better, and rarely—if ever—felt the peace and joy of a job well done.
“What lies are you believing?” a good friend was wise enough and brave enough to ask.
“What do you mean? What lies?” Ray asked.
“What are some assumptions or expectations you have? Assumptions and expectations that you don’t yet realize are shaping your life but not with the truth. They’re lies. Like you have to be perfect, or you should have everything you want, or have to say yes to everyone. Replace those lies with the truth and see what happens.”
“Like what truth?” Ray leaned in and listened.
“That Jesus is perfect when you are not. That Jesus always answers your prayers and always gives you what you need and not always what you want. That God created everything and everyone with limits and we all need boundaries. That our mistakes are forgiven. That the promises of God never change and always come true, even when we don’t understand. That God owns us and our world.”
Ray felt better already, and committed to identifying the lies he believes, then replacing them with the truth.
What is one lie that you believe too easily and too often? What truth of Jesus can replace it? (Here’s an excellent resource: The Lies We Believe, a book by Dr. Chris Thurman).
