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Do You Have Answers for The Hard Questions?

Do You Have Answers for The Hard Questions?  -christyfitzwater.com

I caught a few lines of a song the other day (although I didn’t realize how raunchy and godless it was until I investigated it further, so yeah -not sharing it with you.) But it caught my attention because the artist sang a question and then an answer, repeating this over and over.

It made me think of the listening work I do at our church Awana program on Wednesday nights. They kids work through a catechism, where they recite a question, the answer, and then a supporting Scripture verse.

Catechism: A summary of the principles of Christian religion in the form of questions and answers.

We all run our own mental catechism. Everyone asks questions. Everyone answers those questions somehow. But do we answer them well? Do we answer them with truth?

Paul David Tripp, in Instruments in The Redeemer’s Hands, says:

…the questions we ask ourselves (sometimes almost unconsciously) are what we use to try and make sense out of life. The answers we give will profoundly affect the direction of our lives.

Consider these questions I think people are asking right now:

Where do I find my value?

What happens to me when I die?

What is the greatest thing I can do with my life?

How do I find meaning in work?

How can I be happy?

Who is in control of my future?

How can I forgive someone who hurt me?

Where can I look for help?

How can I be a better person?

What do I do with my failure?

Where is a safe place to run when I’m afraid?

How can I know God?

Why do such horrible, painful things happen to people?

Where can I find true love?

Where should I look for peace?

You know that the world is a spiraling mess, and what we need is people who can stand up and say, “I know the answers to the tough questions.” The world needs to hear from people who know the who and the why and the how and the where.

Peter gives good advice to followers of Christ:

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  (1 Peter 3:15 NIV)

As followers of Christ, we need to know the deep questions people are going to ask when times are hard and be equipped to be first responders with biblical answers. No one is going to want our opinion on the hard stuff, only truth from God’s lips.

Have you set your hope on Christ? If yes, how prepared are you to give meaty reasons for that hope?