My 11-year-old son asks the best questions. He can get a conversation going in any situation. I overheard a lively discussion at the playground when he asked a group of kids, “Which is better, dogs or cats?” I won’t tell you which won, or it might cause another fight. Once on a long car drive, he asked us, “Would you rather be able to fly like a bird or swim like a fish?” The debate occupied us for a good 40 miles. And the other night at dinner he asked, “If you could ask God anything, what would you ask?” Our normally verbal family was silenced for a few moments.
What would we ask God? Isn’t asking questions what prayer is?
My son’s question gnawed to the core. Asking questions to get to know God better often isn’t what we do when we pray. If we are honest, imagining God right in front of us, flesh and bone, brings forth more questions than we ever ask in our regular prayer lives.
If we could ask God anything, what would we ask?
Our family finally began to ask questions aloud. We asked about the people we have lost. Are they with you? And, What were you like as a kid? Could you teach me that water into wine miracle? When are you coming back?
Over the next few days, my son’s question kept coming back to me. I tried to imagine God sitting in a chair in my room with me. Do you love me? I asked. Why? What do you see in me?
As I practiced this discipline, I sensed God’s presence more and more. I felt certain that God loved me and began to see myself through his eyes as a doting Father. As I sat with him, I became more certain of his ways and the truth and goodness in the world. As I sat with God, I felt strengthened to take on the tension of the world outside. I realized I wanted to ask fewer questions and just enjoy his presence.
But maybe you are like my son. Maybe you are a big question-asker, and that’s how you get to know someone. Prayer can be asking questions. David asked questions in the Psalms—over 50 of them. He asked (my paraphrases):
- Lord, why don’t you seem to be around when I need help? (10:1)
- Lord, I feel as if I am at the end of my rope. How long will I dangle like this? (6:3)
- Who are you? (24:8)
God is not afraid of questions. There is not one he hasn’t heard. He isn’t afraid or shocked by them. He welcomes them.
So, if you could ask God anything—which you can—what would you ask?
Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay.
“Lord, would you still continue to work mystical events with me even in my olden days?” is the question I would ask.
I have seen many miracles in my life, from a sinner loved by you, would I shout it out and not ashamed? as I am always been a sinner but changed like; water into wine, light, in my dark and dim hollowed room, a crossed and crooked streets to a straight lining road back home to You. Lost but now I’m found. Oh Lord, where will I be? You are my all! I live because you lived. If I will live without having love, I’ll die without having lived for. Oh how I love you, Lord!
Blessed are the curious and the meek 🙂 Kids are amazing, hence we need to train them young and your son did raise a very interesting question and quite a profound reflection.
Thanks. Nice way to initiate reflection.
Multi-talent and stay bless. thank you
Let this lent fill us with His graces and precious blood.
Excellent for reflection. Thank you!
This was perfect preparation for Lent! I’m printing it and “trying out” a different Psalm each day as a reflection and Imaginative Prayer. Thank you so much, especially to your son.
The question I would ask God? My life is a question He asks me every day. That’s enough of a question.
Good reflection. Questions that beg looking at.
Great blog…spot on…I guess what I ask in various forms often is “What do you see in me, in us, that you were willing to become one of us and die for us?” He always comes back with the same answer: That’s what you do for someone you love. Isn’t that great?
Why all the suffering? Not just the global deprivations but the personal hells people experience. Job asked a similar question and he was asked a question in reply. Why do you think you know what God is thinking? Were you there when the galaxies were created? It was a comeuppance reply by the almighty to the beleaguered Jew. No Lord, I wasn’t there but still I do not understand. Am I being punished? Is this a test? The world is filled with wonder and beauty, from the stars to the lilacs that arrive each Springtime but still the disappointment in unanswered prayers and the destitution which is in the cities and the wilderness is so widespread. I can’t comprehend a loving God allowing for such misery and the desolation felt by junkies and drunks, why must they suffer so much. Im confusing the global and the personal but still Lord my question remains the same. Why?
Yes Paul, I ask the same questions as you and also wonder why abortion, human trafficking, euthanasia, rape and all infractions against human dignity and genocide. Like China that leaves babies to die in their cribs due to being female or parents maxing out on their country’s quota of only a 2 child policy, leaving the disabled and mentally challenged children, adults die on the streets with no food, clothing, care. I feel guilty asking God why. But I just don’t understand because He is a God of Love…..Can someone help me understand?
The thing is that God gave us freewill and the suffering we see in the world happens as a result of human actions or lack of action, when we don’t choose love. Take climate change and how that has impacted those who are poor and least able to cope with natural disasters, or the failure to address inequalities which has been highlighted by Covid. In response, God amazingly took all of that suffering on his shoulders when He died on the cross for us. I agree it’s difficult sometimes to see why he doesn’t step straight in, but then who (as Mother Theresa said) are His hands and feet in this world? And to reframe the question, can we consider in what ways He brings something good out of suffering?
You might find the following free online course helpful
https://unanswered.prayercourse.org/sessions/
and the book ‘God on Mute’, by Pete Greig.
These are not specifically Catholic resources but are still relevant. The course is devised by 24-7 Prayer Communities which is ecumenical. I am myself not a Catholic Christian but I do find this blog and Ignatian practices helpful to my spiritual growth.
Inspirational. Thanks
Thanks for the ‘poke’ to consider this. First questions that popped when meditating on this: Yo God, what’s up with you today? what can I do to help you?