Questions are generally assumed as problems needing immediate answers. However, a rushed answer can shortchange our journey of discovery. Sometimes a question is more important than the immediate answer.
School taught us that questions are problems to be solved, and to find the one correct answer as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, this trained us to focus more on getting the right answer than on taking the full quest of discovery. Passing the test became more important than actual learning.
And now we tend to apply this approach throughout our life and relationships.
For instance, questions probing our life work and purpose are rarely questions that can be sufficiently answered when first asked.
However, in feeling the pressure to have an answer, we’re often quick to adopt a career path and professional identity without much reflection.
Perhaps we surrender to family expectations, pursue the highest paying position, or simply settle for what we can do rather than considering deeply what we should do.
In time this leads to disappointment and confusion. We have a good job, but remain dissatisfied in our work.
While we might need immediate work to provide for our families, we should not assume this completely satisfies the question of our life work and purpose.
We must stick with the question to discover all that God intends for us.
Who am I? Why do I exist? And where do I find my deepest meaning?
These are questions that might take years to fully unpack. But the true answers are found only on the quest itself.
Others can guide us and personality assessments might even give us meaningful insights. But in the end, we cannot shortchange our inner work of discovery.
This is true in our relationships as well. Even here we must not settle for quick answers if we want to discover the true depth and goodness of the relationship.
The important questions of life cannot be rushed. We must stick with the questions in order to realize all that God is inviting us into.
Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash
