Research tells us that young children need to hear around 21,000 words per day. These words help them develop their vocabulary, language skills, and will make them better students once they enter school. My three-year-old hears this allotment, no doubt. He’s the youngest of four, so there’s no shortage of words in our house. Just in case he’s behind on the word count, though, he fills the day with no less than 50,000 of his own words, mainly questions. I feel like I’m inundated with the Socratic method on the daily, and, just being honest, it’s a bit exhausting. But, he’s incredibly cute, so I let it pass. I also know that it’s a part of his development, and he is still trying to gain an understanding of how this world works. His questions are usually ones to which he already knows the answer and that he has already asked at least twenty-five times. It’s like he needs a reassurance that the answer hasn’t changed. He asks a question, then repeats the answer in the form of a question a la Alex Trebek until you answer him with a, “Yes, that’s right.” If you are ignoring him or not answering the way he wants, he only gets louder. His brother and sisters will say, “Just say yes, Mom. SAY YES!” He will only accept an answer from the one to whom the question was asked. Like I said, he’s incredibly cute.
Having to answer all of Ellis’s questions has really made me think about how God answers my own questions. So many times in my life I’ve begged God to show me what I’m supposed to be doing in certain situations. When I do have a clear directive from God, I throw doubt on it like a blanket over a fire and constantly question if I really heard Him right or if I really can trust that He was telling me to go that route. How do I know you were telling me that, God? Are you sure I’m supposed to do that now and not in a few months? Did you factor in how that will affect such and such? Surely you don’t think I’m ready for that, do you? Maybe you don’t struggle with doubt like I do, and maybe it seems like the antithesis of faith to have doubt, but doubt has crippled me so many times in my life and continues to try its best to have me questioning God.
Think about Moses. God chose him, came to him in a burning bush and SPOKE to him, and he still had doubt that he could do anything for the kingdom of God. He told God that he wasn’t enough for the job because he doubted himself. I can’t help but think of what blessings Moses missed out on because of that doubt, and yet God was still able to use him in amazing ways. God wanted Moses and all his messy imperfections, but Moses let those messy imperfections override what the God of the universe was telling him he could do. When I read about Moses, I am reminded of my own doubt and how silly it is in comparison to the God of the universe. In all fairness, Moses heard straight from God’s voice, though, am I right? Of course, I wouldn’t have any issue with doubt if I could hear God’s voice. Right?
Sixty-six books.
Over 780,000 words.
God’s voice resounds on every single page, every single word of THE Word of God, and here I am thinking I can’t possibly hear from Him in the same way Moses did. In fact, there are way more words for me than Moses ever thought about having, so maybe his doubt was a little easier to grasp than mine. Ouch. Those words on those pages in that Bible are there for ME, they’re there for YOU, so that we might know Him, have faith in Him, trust Him, love Him, and be equipped by Him, equipped for every good work.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16,17 ESV
Like the young child that needs to hear 21,000 words a day to develop and grow, how many of those 780,000 of God’s words do we need each day to make us more like Him? Unlike words from any other book, those words leap from the page and are alive. They lend something new with each deep dive into their sacred ink, but sometimes, oftentimes, that something is harsh, sharp, and cuts us deep to the core. If it doesn’t, then you’re probably not doing it right.
When doubt creeps in, I need to turn to the Word.
When my flesh is literally crumbling, I need to turn to the Word.
When my life is in shambles because of stupid things I have done, I need to turn to the Word.
When I feel myself start to question God with things I already know the answer to, I need to turn to the Word.
When I find myself in a place where I think I have it all figured out, I really need to turn to the Word.
His answers may not always line up with what I want; I may throw a tantrum and cry, “Just say yes, God!”, or I may draw nearer to Him because I just can’t do it on my own. He is always faithful to me, though. He is always just. He is always right. He is always love. He is always sovereign. He is always. His Word may not give me specific answers to specific questions (or it might), but it fine tunes me according to His ways and His will so that I can be led by the Holy Spirit to live each moment in a way that glorifies God. And is there really any other question that matters? Does it glorify God? The End.
Lord, let me turn to Your Word to hear from You, not from thin air, not from other Christians, not from divine signs, and not from empty prayers. You can talk to me through any of those if you choose, but I know that the Word of God is where your will lies and where your directions for my life reside. Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path! Help me to place all of my weight in Your Word and treat it as the utmost for my life because that is where you will change me to be more like you. Amen!
Love that Jamie. 🙏