the spiritual climate on campus
That night with my friends, peo-
ple who were otherwise very close
were divided by a shared complacen-
cy over engaging in deep dialogue.
Asking and discussing profound and
difficult questions about our thoughts,
opinions, and beliefs is essential to
building relationships on all fronts,
no matter the type of relationship (i.e.
friend to friend, believer to non-be-
liever, etc.).
Asking questions and engaging in
difficult dialogue helps us grow in
knowledge and in relationships, both
with others and with God. Addition-
ally, the act of asking questions should
50
not solely depend on receiving a clear
answer. In life, we often ask questions
without receiving responses. What,
then, do we do when we’re seeming-
ly abandoned in our pursuit of knowl-
edge? I often find myself asking
questions about my faith. I’ve found
myself doubting concepts ranging
from Creation to God’s existence, yet
I’ve also found comfort in situations
where I have not been given answers.
Only by reflecting on my doubt can
I really find the truth.
In Psalm 77, David cries out to
God for help and questions His in-
tentions to rescue him in his distress.
Halfway through the psalm, he con-
cludes that all is lost: “Has God for-
gotten to be merciful? Has he in
anger withheld his compassion?” Yet,
as the psalm continues, David’s ques-
tions remind him of God’s faithfulness
to the Israelites who escaped Egypt
by crossing the Red Sea. This restores
his trust in God. Questioning allowed
David to live in hope, rather than
continually exist in doubt. Similarly,
if we don’t ask questions, we may al-
ways be stuck harboring bitter doubts
about His promises, believing in God
with our minds, but not with our
hearts. | cu