“Seeing this, the Pharisee who had invited Him said to himself: “If this Man were a prophet, He would know who is touching Him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” Jesus turned to him and said: “Simon, I have something to tell you.” He replied, “Tell me, Teacher!” (Gospel of Luke, ch. 7, verses 39-40*, bold indicates our emphasis)
“When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the double-drachma tax came to Peter and said: “Doesn't your Teacher pay the double-drachma?” He replied, “Yes, He does.” When he went into the house, Jesus was first to speak and asked: “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own sons or from others?”
(Gospel of Matthew, ch. 17, verses 24-25*, bold indicates our emphasis)
“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees began to question: “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Jesus knew what they were thinking and answered: “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk’?” (Gospel of Luke, ch. 5, verses 21-23*, bold indicates our emphasis)
As we read in the above verses, we can see at least a few instances described in the New Testament where Jesus anticipates questions or answers those not even asked aloud. In the cited cases, there are two common elements that repeat: we have people who have seemingly logical arguments but do not have the courage to ask Jesus a question.
Sometimes in our communication with people, we are inclined to withhold something, knowing it won't be understood correctly. Or we think we wouldn't be able to explain it to the other person, so we prefer not to bring it up. Yes, but unlike people, God understands everything we think and has an answer to every question. He is not disturbed by our arguments, nor does He feel awkward or pressured by ignorance. Many times, we see how Jesus tells His disciples things that at first glance don't relate to the questions they ask Him and that puzzle them. He does not feel obligated to answer based on people's expectations but according to the truth. Why?
1. **For God, the state of our heart is of utmost importance**
Part of why we withhold or swallow things is due to our human pride. Whether to avoid being misunderstood, judged, rejected, considered silly, rude, tactless, we are inclined to remain silent and not reveal what weighs on our hearts. Some of us think it’s better to keep quiet because this would avoid creating tension and problems, but they harbor a burden or split within themselves that cannot bring peace and eventually causes long-term issues. God knows and sees this. He knows our hearts, which is why He says: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (Gospel of John, ch. 8, verse 32*) In truth, there is freedom; it releases us to act according to our thoughts, preventing a disconnect between our inner and outer selves.
2. **God intervenes when we have reached our limit**
Our inability marks the moment when God intervenes. He will not do something He expects from you and for which He has given you the capacity. But He won't leave you struggling to do something for which you lack ability and strength. Our God is a good Father—He trains us but does not torture us. Therefore, when He sees the disturbing questions in a human heart with its rationales, He does not remain silent. In one way or another, He prompts the person first to openly name the problem or dilemma within themselves, and then to reach the truth that will set them free. The path to this might be long, and for some, it might take an entire human lifetime. However, we see how God's Son shows us the Father's attitude towards our unanswered questions: God does not remain silent to torment us, does not prefer concealment and silence at the cost of truth, He wishes to free us from our dilemmas, but for each person, this takes different amounts of time for growth. Therefore, we must be patient with ourselves and with circumstances beyond our control.
3. **God can give you an answer that surprises you**
Regardless of whether we love surprises or not, whether we associate them with something pleasant or not, God's actions in our lives can often surprise us. This especially happens to personalities who love to control everything and have an answer to every question. Sometimes we don’t ask God our questions because we think we've already reached the correct conclusion on our own. What does that mean? We don't want an answer because we trust ourselves and our judgment, believing we don’t need an answer. However, if our logic is flawed, then the Lord can greatly “surprise” us by showing us the situation from another angle that had been hidden from our eyes until now. This surprise may be pleasant or not, but it is necessary and for our benefit. One of the saddest states in the life of a believer is self-deception and delusion, so God does not want us to remain deceived.
Challenge for the week: Do you have questions for God? Do you have such questions that you’ve even asked others, but their reaction has made you stay silent and never ask again? Do you think God is worried about any topic or problem and cannot answer? Present your questions to Him. Do not suppress or withhold them. He wants you to be free from any division in your soul so you can grow in faith. Talk to people who know the Bible and whom you trust. Find biblical commentaries with reflections on the topic you are seeking. Be open to listen and receive your answers. Give yourself time and trust God's timing.
*Biblical quotes are according to the text of Bible, new translation from the original languages © Bulgarian Bible Society 2013.
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