The difficult questions

First off, I am a little bummed out that I haven't posted in two days. Whenever there is any sort of break from classes we have two-a-days for basketball so that is how my days are spent when we don't have class. It's just hard to find time on those days, and I am not just making an excuse, that is normally just how it is.

I am okay with being too busy to post one day, but when I get too busy to post two days in a row, I start to feel anxious. It might sound crazy to some people that I get anxious when I don't write a blog. To some people that feeling might be anxiety, but honestly, to me it's a feeling of soul-longing. My soul longs to spend time in the word, journaling, and then writing a blog post. My soul longs for that fulfillment that I get when I can share what I learn. My soul longs for the growth that can happen everyday. My soul longs.

Today when I woke up, my soul was longing. I was thinking, I have to get up and write something before church. My soul was longing. I couldn't wait any longer to write another post.

I titled this post: "The difficult questions." I want to touch on difficult questions for one specific reason. That reason is that difficult questions lead to meaningful relationships. How many people in your life would you consider yourself to be friends with just because you like to have fun with them? I know for me there are a decent amount of people that I know who I have that sort of relationship with. Now, think about how many people in your life you know on a deeper level. Why do you know those people on a deeper level? Most likely because of the conversations you have with them.

I am not saying it's bad to have friends that you just like to have fun with. There really isn't a probably there. As humans, it's a blessing to have those people in our lives. We all have those friends who we hit up if we want to go to the store, go watch a sporting event, go out to eat with, etc. If you think this isn't you, trust me it is. I promise. It's how we are. We choose who we want to do certain things with. I have friends who I would way rather sit down to get coffee with compared to doing something fun. That is based on the conversations and the type of friendships I have.

Think about the friends who have an extra special relationship with. How did that happen? Like I mentioned above, probably based on conversations that you have had with them. Right! Most of those conversations probably started out with a difficult question. Something you probably didn't want to ask but you did anyways. I think we automatically have this wall put up when we first interact with someone new, and when a difficult question is asked, that wall is torn down. Have you been there before? My intuition tells me yes.

What are some of these difficult questions?

"What do you struggle with?"
"How was your time with your family over thanksgiving break?"
"How can I pray for you?"
"What do you do to strengthen your relationship with Christ?"
"Do you read your bible?"
"What church do you go to?"
"What is one of the things you have learned about yourself this year?"
"What are some of the things you are thankful for?"
"What do you fear?"
"What do you desire?"
"What are some of your gifts?"
"Tell me about your family."

Those are just some of the examples that came to my mind. Difficult questions don't have to be questions that deal with God. Difficult questions are ones that make you think. Difficult questions make you get into your feelings. They're questions that tear down those walls we have built. Difficult questions are a key to a persons heart. When you ask these sorts of questions you build trust with somebody because you are showing that you really do care about them. How often do you get asked one of these questions, and you feel special just because someone asked you? I know for me, I love it! Most people nowadays shy away. That's why it's difficult. Or, most people shy away in person, and then have no problem texting about difficult things ya know?

It's amazing how when certain people are placed into your life, you become inspired by the smallest of things. I encourage you to ask the difficult questions, tear down the wall, share your feelings, and that is when you will make somebody feel treasured. There is so much power in going beneath the surface. Going beneath the surface is when you truly get to know somebody and their heart.

Try it out, I promise you won't regret. I also promise you it's not easy. If you read this post and it makes sense to you, you are going to be placed in a situation today at some point where you have the opportunity to ask a difficult question. It's funny how God works. You're going to be faced with it. What are you going to do? Ask the question or just stick to what is easy? If you stick to what is easy, it's okay. Just ask the difficult question next time. But don't get in a habit of that. It's a battle between meaningful vs. meaningless. Don't give into meaningless. It will be hard, it will make your stomach have butterflies but it's how we form meaningful relationships. Meaningful relationships are a way to be obedient to the second greatest commandment: loving your neighbor as yourself.