September 30: Ask A Stupid Question Day

 

September 30:  Ask A Stupid Question Day

During the 1980’s a group of teachers realized that their students weren’t asking questions for fear of sounding stupid. They created a day dedicated to letting students ask the questions they were most ashamed of. Ever since then Ask a Stupid Question Day has been an annual tradition celebrated by American Schools everywhere including schools in Britain and India. 

God’s word is riddled with stories of those who asked questions, most often of God.  In that sense, I suppose we could classify those as “stupid.”  It smacks of impertinence and even arrogance.  Who are we to question God? 

Therein lies the mystery of God’s self-revelation.  He wants us to ask Him questions!  He invites us to bring our doubts and our fears to Him, risking even asking stupid questions of the One Person who know the end from the beginning.  More specifically, I think of the many Psalms in which the psalmist quizzes God with the kinds of questions that we all ask.

“God, how long will I have to endure this hard time?” (Psalm 6:3).  “God, why do you seem so far away when I need you the most?” (Psalm 10:1) “God, why do the wicked seem to prosper and the righteous are beat down?” (Psalm 73).  What place should questions like these take in our lives? 

It would seem that if God intended us to simply grin and bear it, He would not have included the Psalms in a book specifically designed to show us God and how to relate to Him.  Apparently, asking questions of God is appropriate, even necessary.  Our walk of faith is not blind, as some suggest.  It is rooted in wrestling with God, asking questions, facing our doubts, and bringing all these to the very Person whom we suspect is behind it all.

On this day, answer this question: “If I had the opportunity to ask God just one question, what would it be?”  After you take some time to prayerfully consider that, then go to God’s Word.  Would it surprise you to know that you are not the first person to ask that?  You will almost certainly find examples of questions like that in His word, along with answers.  While the answers may not be completely satisfying, remember that God is.  More than the answers, He wants to offer you Himself as the greatest reward to every search.  So go ahead!  Ask away!  Remember, when it comes to our Heavenly Father, there are no stupid questions.