Afraid to Ask
Scripture Reading — Mark 9:30-32
They did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.
Maybe you have heard the saying “There’s no such thing as a dumb question.” We have all had times when we wanted to ask something but didn’t have the courage to ask.
In school, for example, there were many times when I wanted to ask a question in class but simply didn’t have the courage to ask. Maybe I thought it wasn’t a good question. Maybe I was afraid of the answer. Or maybe I thought that instead of a straight answer I would get a question in return that would prove my lack of knowledge.
Jesus had now told his disciples twice that he would die and be raised again from the dead. Can you imagine the questions they must have had about that? But they were afraid to ask. Maybe they were afraid because they thought they should understand this already. Or maybe they were afraid because they didn’t want Jesus to ask them any follow-up questions. Or maybe they were afraid to ask because they weren’t sure they wanted to know the answers.
We all have questions that we want to ask God but are afraid to ask.
Yet we don’t need to be afraid to ask God anything. In fact, he wants us to bring our questions, doubts, and fears to him.
What questions are you afraid to ask? Take some time to bring those to God today.
Heavenly Father, help us to overcome our fears and bring our questions, concerns, doubts, and worries to you today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
About the author — Bret Lamsma
Bret Lamsma is Director of Faith Formation at First Church in Denver, Colorado, and has served churches in Michigan and California in youth, emerging adult, inter-generational, and educational ministries. Bret and his wife, Julie, have two children, and he enjoys hiking, disc golfing, and cheering for the Chicago Cubs.
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