POST 42: Asking the Right Questions to Find Your Purpose
POST 42
Asking the Right Questions to Find Your Purpose
Questions are essential.
Asking the right questions is the key to discovering the right answers.
I’ll admit, I (Kristel) talked so much and asked so many questions as a kid that it drove my parents crazy. They had to ask me to take breaks. Curiosity oozed out of me, and I wanted to know everything about everything.
At a young age, it’s normal for our questions to seem disorganized or jumbled. As we grow and mature, however, it’s important to think before we ask—to ask the right question with intentionality and an end in mind. It’s important to take into consideration whom you’re talking to, where the conversation is going, and what answers you’re looking for.
Jesus was great at asking questions. In fact, most of the time when someone would ask him a question, he would respond with another question! Sometimes we want someone to tell us the answer so badly—but what we really need is to discover the answer for ourselves. It’s when we ask ourselves the hard-but-meaningful questions that we will have our aha moment.
Jesus Asks Peter the Right Question
There’s an exchange in the Bible between Jesus and Peter that I love to read. Let me give you the background.
At the Last Supper, Jesus is eating with his disciples and preparing to go to the cross. Jesus warns that he will be rejected, and that even his closest disciples will deny him. Peter is adamant that he will never deny Jesus. Peter loves Jesus too much to not tell the world. He has no shame, and he is not afraid.
But that all changes when Jesus is captured by the Roman soldiers. Mere hours after Peter pledges his full devotion, Peter is very much filled with fear. As he sits around the campfire with strangers talking about Jesus, a young girl says, “Hey, aren’t you one of his friends?” Peter, caught off guard, denies this claim. In fact, he refuses to acknowledge that he is one of Jesus’ followers two more times that night.
Peter then remembers the words of Jesus—that Peter too will deny him. Guilt washes over him, and he weeps.
Fast-forward to after Jesus rose from the dead. One of the times he appeared to the disciples was after they had been fishing. As Jesus and Peter sit on the beach eating fish around a fire, Jesus asks him, “Peter, do you love me?”
You can tell Peter is embarrassed by Jesus’ question. He’s ashamed and doesn’t want to be reminded of the way he messed up. “Of course, I love you. You know that!”
“Take care of my sheep,” Jesus responds. You see, Jesus is known as the Good Shepherd, and we are his sheep (John 10:1–18). He cares for us, protects us, and shelters us.
Again, Jesus asks Peter if Peter loves him. Again, Peter assures Jesus that he does. And again, Jesus calls on Peter to care for his sheep.
And then a third time, the same discussion occurs.
At this point, Peter is flabbergasted! It may seem like Jesus is badgering Peter, questioning his love, trying to test him. But that’s not at all what’s going on.
Instead, a beautiful reversal takes place. Three times Peter had denied Jesus around a fire, and three times Jesus gives Peter an opportunity to proclaim his love and commitment to Jesus around another fire.
It doesn’t end there. Jesus shows Peter his purpose: “Take care of my sheep.” Jesus knows he will be returning to God the Father. He wants Peter to know that it will now be his responsibility to care for those who remain on earth.
Jesus probably could have just told Peter his purpose without all the questions—but through the line of questioning, perhaps Peter realized he really did love Jesus and he really did want to be committed to Jesus’ mission. And so, he knew what he had to do: take care of the people who follow Jesus.
READING GOD’S WORD
When they finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.” He asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was sad that Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” He replied, “Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15–17)
REFLECT AND RESPOND
Journaling Questions
What questions do you have about your purpose?
Do you think you’re asking the right questions to get the right answers? What’s one way you can discover if you’re asking the right questions?
Whom can you discuss your questions with?
Pray This Prayer
God, thank you for your love and example in the Scriptures that you care about my purpose. As I begin to discover what that means for my life, help me to ask the right questions with a focus on what you want for my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.
SOMETHING TO TRY
Make a list of the questions you have regarding your purpose. Sit down with a trusted adult to share your questions. Be open to the questions they ask you as you are challenged to think about God’s purpose for your life.
THE TAKEAWAY
Jesus asked the right questions to help people discover their purpose. You can learn to ask the right questions too.