If you asked me how I feel most loved by someone, I would tell you without hesitation that I feel incredibly loved, seen, and known when I’m asked a good question.
Gosh, I love a thought-provoking, soul-searching, detail-remembering question! It shows me you’re listening, you’re paying attention, you care. Ask me to tell you about my boys, my favorite books, something I’m learning, a dream I have… and I’ll just bask in the glow of your kindness for a moment before answering ;).
I’m much more of an “asker” myself than a “teller,” so I typically wait for the invitation to share before I open up. I’m also a collector of good questions, notably the ones that cause you to pause, to think, to feel, and to reflect. It’s no wonder I love offering spiritual direction, eh?
Jesus famously asked hundreds of questions throughout the gospels (305 according to this article). Why so many? Especially when he could have “known” the answers already?
Perhaps, per my personal love language, Jesus asked because questions are for connection. Jesus didn’t want information, he wanted conversation.
The questions Jesus asks are open-ended— far more “how” and “why” rather than “when” and “what” or “yes” and “no.” His questions invite honesty, vulnerability, and the kind of transformation that only happens through unhurried introspection. It’s as if Jesus has all the time in the world to really listen to what someone has to say.
Jesus asks questions not to know answers but to know us.
For the next 7 weeks leading to Easter, I would love for you to join me here for a new series exploring Our Curious Christ.
The season of Lent is for leaning closely into Jesus. How better than to receive his questions, to reflect on our own, and to respond from our souls?
Each week, I’ll offer a brief gospel passage highlighting one of Jesus’ piercing questions, a guided practice for engaging the question personally, and an honest prayer of response (veering slightly from our usual format of a Poem + Practice + Prayer).
The aim for these 7 meditations is to prompt in us a listening posture. Let Jesus do the talking. Let Jesus slow us down and give us space to reflect on our lives and the state of our souls. Let Jesus ask the good questions. Let Jesus love us.
Today, I invite you to get curious with Christ as he asks, what are you seeking? This was the first recorded question Jesus posed in the gospels and one he continues to ask us today. Perhaps the answer is far less about where you’re going or what you’re doing and more about Who you’re with.
As you read the Scripture today, let the Scripture read you.1 Our below practice of lectio divina prompts us to engage the text with our hearts and hands rather than only with our heads.
May you find a warm welcome within the questions of Christ.
With peace,
Sarah
We need to learn ways of letting Scripture read us and form us. We cannot treat the Scriptures as only the raw material from which we extract our doctrine. It is we who are the raw material that God forms into the likeness of his Son. - Knut Gronvik
What Are You Seeking?
John 1:35-39
“The next day John the Baptist was there again with two of his disciples.
When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.
Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What are you seeking?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
“Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”
So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.”
A PRACTICE
Read, and read, and read again
Let’s “let the scripture read us” today. This kind of meditation on the Word is more about soul connection and intimate conversation than about knowledge or information.
We’ll read the above passage 3 times through with selah pauses in between. Use your imagination to place yourself in the scene, engage your 5 senses, and notice what rises to the surface as you let the words wash over you.
First Reading
Picture yourself as one of the disciples, how do you approach Jesus? What makes you want to follow Jesus? How are you experiencing him in this moment? How do you imagine his face, his body language, his presence?
Selah (pause, then read again)
Second Reading
Imagine hearing Jesus kindly, almost playfully, asking you by name, “(Sarah) what are you seeking?” What does your soul long to say to Jesus? Perhaps wait for the response beneath the initial response. What are you really seeking? And under that, what are you really, truly seeking today?
Selah (pause, then read again)
Third Reading
Envision asking Jesus, “where are you staying?” What does your voice sound like as you inquire of him? Notice that you don’t ask “what are you doing?” or “where are you going?” but rather “where are you staying?” What invitation might be here for you to explore?
Selah (pause, then conclude with the prayer below)
A Prayer
Lord Jesus who stays,
Who remains,
Who tarries,
Who’s not in a hurry,
Who waits,
So often I ask where you’re going
Or what you’re doing
But perhaps today
I”ll ask where you’re staying
And I’ll stay
With you
For the day.
Amen
“Long before we ever got around to asking questions about God, God had been questioning us.” -Eugene Peterson
P.S.
Monthly Prayer and Practice Group
On the last Thursday each month at 3pm Eastern (noon Pacific), we’ll carve out about 45 minutes to walk through a “selah” time to pause with God together. I’ll guide us through prayer and silence, moments for listening to the Spirit, journal prompts, or thoughtful reflection questions.
This month, on February 29th at 3pm EST, I'll lead us into an exercise we'll call the Spiritual GPS. With journal in hand, we'll ponder "where am I?" through 6 reflective prompts. If you need to get your bearings and locate your soul in the midst of the craze, this one is for you! REGISTER FOR FREE HERE.
Here’s a great article about Lectio Divina, often referred to as a way to “let Scripture read you.” Today’s practice loosely follows this format.
This was food for my soul this week. Very timely❤️
Thank you, Sarah. Seems these days it is so hard to slow down and allow myself to listen intently for God to speak with me…good thoughts in this article.