The Question

Have you ever questioned God’s promise through Jesus? Maybe you don’t question that Jesus was the Messiah and that He died on the cross and rose again, but maybe you have a hard time believing how personal Jesus’ death and resurrection is in your life. I recently talked with a friend who had a lot of questions. And when I say a lot of questions I mean it. Most nine year olds do.

I volunteer with a children’s program at my church on Wednesday’s when I get the chance. I have known this little girl, Jordan, for four years now and let me tell you she is one honest person! Her honesty is paired with an attitude that screams, “Shoot girl, I know I’m a diva okay, so step aside.” =0) Usually, this combination proves to be difficult, but last week my conversation with her left me praising God.

My friend Kristin asked me to talk with the kindergarten and 1st graders about journaling, what it means to me, and how it can be a way we communicate with God. Jordan, even though she is in 4th grade, decided to join us. I began to explain when we write in our journals we can ask/tell God anything in our hearts and He will hear us. Their goal was to write their thoughts about an Easter video we had just watched. It was about the disciples waiting for Jesus to rise from the dead. It was a great video that depicted the worry, sorrow, and tension that must have gone on in those three days of waiting.

As we sat there in a tight little circle, each of us writing away in our separate thoughts, Jordan asked me a question that left me speechless.

THE QUESTION:

Jordan: “Miss Lindsey, I get the whole Jesus had to die thing, but why would God allow Him to die in such a painful way? That seems so mean to me and I just don’t get this at all.”

My thoughts: “Oh. My. Goodness. Holy Spirit be my words.”

What do I say to that?! She just looked at me with her dark brown eyes searching for the answer on my face. Unfortunately for her all she saw was my mouth hanging open saying, “Umm…well…I…here’s the thing…umm.” Brilliant, I know.

Me: “Can I ask you a question, Jordan? Have you ever done something you know you shouldn’t do, but you do it anyway?”

Jordan: “Yeah. I shop lift all the time. I know it is wrong, but my friend taught me how to do it and I’ve done it with her a lot lately. I feel guilty each time though.”
(Remember that attitude I mentioned earlier…)

Me: “Well, Jesus died on the cross to pay for all the times we do something wrong. For example, every time you shop lift, and every time I judge somebody. That is why Jesus died the way He did because He loves us so much He took our place when we were deserving of the punishment. He loves you so much, Jordan. He doesn’t want you to do those things.”

Jordan: “Okay…I get it a little more I guess. I’m still confused but okay. Can I write God questions in my journal because I have a lot of them for Him.”

Me: “Yes! You can write Him as many questions as you would like. My journal is full of questions. The great thing is that when we write them down we can remember what we asked and when Jesus answers our questions we will remember to thank Him.”

Jordan: “Okay, wait a second. (Insert sassiness here) When Jesus answers our questions? What are you talkin’ about? How does He do that? Girl, we can’t hear Him, He is dead!”

Me: “Girl, what did you say?!” (Insert sassiness again) He is not dead at all! He is very much alive! He is alive in you and me. Did you fall asleep on the second half of that video we just watched? Jesus came back alive after three days! Can you believe it?! And yes, He went back in to heaven, but He gave us a gift called the Holy Spirit before He went away. The Holy Spirit lives in your heart if you ask and in mine too.”

Jordan: Oh, my goodness…okay…so how does He answer our questions? Through the Holy Spirit? And how do you hear the Holy Spirit?” (she said this as she let out a big sigh and brought her hand to her forehead in confusion.)

Me: “Yes you are right, He answers us through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives in your heart if you invite Him in. That little guilty feeling after shop lifting is a nudging from the Spirit. God can answer your questions through friends who have the Holy Spirit in them and through reading Scripture, through a song, and in nature. He is everywhere. That is why it is important to keep our hearts, minds, ears, and eyes open.”

Jordan: “In nature? Jesus speaks to you that way? How?”

Me: “Have you ever been stressed out because your friend doesn’t like you anymore or you hate school because you just don’t get what the teacher is telling you, but then you go outside and you see a flower or feel the sun on your face? How do you feel?”

Jordan: “Yeah I like going outside when bad stuff happens. I feel peaceful.”

Me: “Have you ever thought that the peaceful feeling is God calming you down because He loves you?”

Jordan: “Oh…(sounding more hopeful) okay, that makes sense.”

Me: “I know it can all be confusing Jordan. Keep praying and asking questions. Keep searching and remember, God wants to talk with you and He will do it in a lot of different ways. He might not answer the way you want to hear, or in your timing, but He will answer because He loves you.”

Wow. But the story gets better. Miss Kristin called us back into a big group to read the closing scripture for the evening. As she began to read, Jordan whipped her head around to look at me; eyes wide with excitement and a tone in her voice to match that beautiful expression she exclaimed, “MISS KRISTIN HAS THE HOLY SPIRIT IN HER!” The verse:

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

“Miss Lindsey, God just answered my question through Miss Kristin! That is why Jesus had to die for me the way He did! He died for my sins! I get it! Girl, you ain’t lyin’ when you tell me stuff like this!”

Hahaha!!! God is so good isn’t He? May we all learn to be honest like Jordan and ask questions. We can even throw in a little attitude. Just ask Jordan.