I Don’t Know
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. —Hebrews 11:8 NIV
Well, friends…I’ve been thinking, and you know what that means—a new blog! If you’ve read any of my other blogs, you’re well aware that these are mostly a way to process things I’ve been learning on my faith journey. Writing helps me think through things, and I’m hopeful that these thoughts will help you, too.
Over the years, I’ve seen/heard more than one devotional, message, or decorative sign inspired by Jesus’ words recorded in Matthew 18. “Faith Like a Child” is often the heading, and usually something about holding onto awe and wonder follows. Maybe it’s expanded to include the humility portion and that children are not hindered by status or what people might think of them. For me, child-like faith looks more and more like asking questions. Children never seem bothered that they don’t know the answer; they simply ask when they want to know something. And any parent or teacher knows that children feel free to ask as many questions as they can until they are satisfied! ‘Why?’ they ask, and the temptation is to answer ‘because’ and move on with the day. But what if we started asking questions and looked for an answer deeper than ‘because?’ I have to tell you that asking ‘Why?’ has deepened my faith quite a bit, particularly where society’s values tend to creep into Church culture and contradict the Kingdom.
Why do we act like dependence on God is a bad thing? Why do we value busyness over rest? Why do we measure the success of a ministry by worship attendance numbers rather than people truly knowing Jesus?
These are the questions I was contemplating when I wrote “The Jesus Way.”
Why do I feel like I’ve ruined everything if I play a wrong note during worship? Why do I think I have to be perfect?
These are questions I was processing when I wrote “Wrong Notes.”
Lately, I’ve been wrestling with some new questions.
Why are we so uncomfortable with not having the answers and facing the unknown? Why does it feel like there is an expectation to have all the answers?
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. —John 14:26 NIV
When you start thinking about something, you often start noticing it everywhere it seems. This can be known as the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon or Frequency Illusion, and it happens because of two psychological processes: Selective Attention and Confirmation Bias. Basically you learn or discover something, and then your brain pays more attention to it. When this happens, it reinforces the idea that suddenly something is “everywhere.” In our Christian journey, I think it is more likely that the Holy Spirit is bringing awareness to something we need to learn or understand better. As our hearts become attuned to the Spirit’s leading, we notice more and more how and where the lesson applies.
In the case of the unknowns of life and not knowing things, I believe the Spirit has been teaching me to think differently about this, too. I also believe I’m not the only one learning this lesson because I’ve heard a lot of teaching and reflections on this from different (and credible) sources recently. So, I’ve started being curious and asking why knowing things feels so important. Take a little trip with me on the curiosity train (and don’t worry, curiosity will not kill the cat)…
When I feel anxious and ask myself why, the root cause is often because I don’t know what to do or I don’t know some piece of information that seems important, and suddenly I feel the weight of not knowing or having the answer.
Why does it matter if you don’t know the answer?
Someone is expecting me to know this.
Are they really, or are you just assuming they expect you to know? Why does their expectation matter?
Because our society values knowledge and elevates those who have the answers.
Do you think everyone that “has the answers” always had the answers, or did they learn them along the way?
Well, I’m sure they learned them somewhere…
So, why isn’t it okay for you to not know, but learn it when you need to?
I don’t know really. It should be okay for me to learn what I don’t know.
Ahh, the truth.
It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. —Proverbs 25:2 ESV
It should be okay for all of us to learn and figure things out as we go, but so very often, that is not how it feels in life. Knowing things (or at least pretending to know things) is often equated with status in our society. How many times have you heard a leader say “I don’t know,” and people are okay with it? How many workplaces create a safe space to learn and seek out solutions rather than put pressure on employees to pretend that they have the answers or lie to keep their positions? Are communities of faith making room to search things out, or does everyone feel pressure to keep up appearances?
We live in the information age where it’s easy to find out things quickly or find a resource that can teach you. You know what else is easy? Finding out a lot of things that are actually false but presented as truth, or worse, things that are too heavy for us to bear. It is God, alone, who is the all-knowing One, and although we are created in His image, we were never meant to know it all. When God commanded Adam and Eve to not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, God was trying to protect them from the burden it is to know all things (Genesis 2:16-17). God is the only One who can handle it.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. —Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV
So what do we do? We return to a right view of ourselves and God, which is a lot harder to do if Christian communities don’t help each other embrace this order. Isaiah 40:28 reminds us who God is and that “No one can measure the depths of his understanding.” Paul puts it like this in Romans 11:33: “Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways!” It is God’s job to know everything at all times, not ours; what a relief!
I’ve heard multiple people say that “I don’t know” is a complete sentence. Do we make room for people to be honest in our communities of faith? Do some pretend to know everything while others scramble to catch up or feel less than for not knowing? Do we prioritize learning and growth, rather than an illusion that we’ve already mastered everything?
I’ve heard plenty of stories or witnessed firsthand when a student was called on in class and didn’t know the answer. It was ‘Humiliation 101’ for many. Now, maybe the student doesn’t know the answer because he or she was misbehaving or not paying attention when the answer was given; that’s a different story. But maybe the student is really trying and just hasn’t learned the answer yet. Most of us would agree that it’s okay and that everyone has to start somewhere.
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. –Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Now for another question: Do we encourage and prioritize faith as a way of life?
I’ve experienced a lot of unknowns in life, and by the grace of God, I’m becoming a lot more comfortable with that. But one of the most awkward parts of that journey is not having an answer for questions like ‘well what are you going to do’ or ‘what’s the solution?’ Even in Christian communities, sometimes an answer of “I’m waiting on the Lord” is not always accepted as sufficient. It can be hard to walk by faith when others aren’t comfortable with that. I think this goes back to it being so engrained in us that we must have the answers at all times.
What I’m saying is, let’s encourage each other to get back to “start somewhere.” Let’s shake off the ridiculous expectation that we must always have an answer, for everything, at any given moment. Let’s release the burden of being all-knowing when that isn’t what we were created to be anyway. Let’s embrace a life of faith and recognize that if we need to know, God will tell us through the Holy Spirit or lead us to the right resources to learn it. Let’s embrace a life of faith and help others to feel free to do the same.
Hebrews 11:1 (above) tells us what faith is, and then verse 2 tells us that: “Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.” (NLT) Faith earned them a good reputation! The rest of the chapter lists people in the Bible who had faith and moved forward in what God called them to do without being able to see the outcome. Their actions often looked “crazy” to people around them, but that did not stop them. They believed God, and that was all they needed.
You see, friends, it’s okay to live by faith; in fact, it’s the best course of action. Even when it’s questioned by the world. Even when it’s challenged by church culture. Even when it’s hard, or it seems like it doesn’t make sense. We have an opportunity to support and encourage others who are walking in the unknown. God invites us to help each other in this life. Can you imagine if someone faced a task like Noah and had a friend come alongside him, and say ‘I don’t really get this, but I’m here to pray for you and support you as you walk in what God has called you to do’? Sometimes when we don’t know, the best support is having someone else say ‘I don’t know either, but I’m here to wait on the Lord with you.’
We were never meant to know everything all the time. I think it’s time to embrace that and help others do the same. Let us encourage one another in the unknown. Let us make peace with not having all the answers and cling to the One who does.
Now, in the words of Paul in his letter to the Ephesians (1:17 NIV): I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Amen.
Additional scriptures about knowledge and wisdom:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.—Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out. —Proverbs 18:15 NIV
For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. —Proverbs 2:6 CSB
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you. —Proverbs 9:10-11 NKJV
For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. —Proverbs 2:10-11 NLT
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. —James 1:5 NLT
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” —John 8:31-32 NIV
God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, so that no one may boast in his presence. It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption—in order that, as it is written: Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. —1 Corinthians 1:28-31 CSB
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. —Romans 12:2 NIV
Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. —2 Peter 3:17-18 NIV
