At a recent girls' event, I had the opportunity to hang out with about 100 high school girls. I handed out sheets of paper and told them to ask any question they wanted...something they'd always wanted to know, an issue they were wrestling with, fears they were facing, anything. What I got was a beautiful look into the hearts and minds of the next generation. Because the session focused on prayer, lots of their questions centered around that, but some zingers were thrown in, too. The girls in your group are undoubtedly dealing with some of these same issues, so I thought I'd pass along their questions. Some of them would make a great Bible study.- How do I know what God's will is for my life?
- How do I know when I am hearing God and not just making stuff up in my head?
- Why doesn't God seem to answer my prayers?
- What do I talk to God about?
- What do I do when I don't feel close to God?
- How do you know if you are a good Christian person? And if you're not, how do you fix it?
- Is it wrong not to want to pray in front of other people?
- Does what we say or ask of God affect what God does?
- Why do we mess up?
- Why do we pray for others to be healed or circumstances to change if GOd know best and we can't change His mind?
These responses reminded me of one central truth: girls are asking deep questions. In turn, I have some questions of my own:
- Are we as girls' ministry leaders creating an atmosphere in which girls can give voice to these thoughts?
- Am I allowing girls to wrestle with their faith, or am I more focused on telling them what I think and what I believe?
- Are girls turning away from the faith because they are finding Christianity lacking in answering the deep questions they face?
- Am I modeling for girls my own comfort with unanswered questions? Are they exposed to the majesty and mystery of God because they've been with me? Or do they see a watered-down, bland, predictable system of morality?
I dare you to think through these questions on your own. Maybe you'll be challenged as much as I was to make sure that I'm providing space and time for deep questions without providing Sunday School answers.
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