One Question

"If you could ask God any question right now, what would it be?"

That was the question my youngest launched my way this morning when I had barely had one sip of my coffee.

“Hmmm,” I began, “that’s a great question.”  Immediately, my mind began filling with things to ask God like:

“Why all the killing?” 

“Why all the suffering?”

"Why did Dad go so soon?"

“If you already know everything, then why pray?”

Not wanting to trouble my eight year old with these sorts of disconcerting questions, I told her, “I’ll have to think about this a while—what would you ask God right now?”

Without hesitation came her sweet reply:

“May I go with you?”

Gulp.

My prideful heart is asking God “why-questions” and questions He has already answered in the Bible and my daughter’s child’s heart merely wants to go with God.

With God.

And maybe “with God” is the answer to all the questions.  Or maybe when we are “with God” we will no longer be troubled by all the questions (even if they remain unanswered). 

So, today, rather than asking God questions or begging him for answers to prayers large and small, I’m just going to ask Him:

“May I go with you?” 

“May I hold your hand and let you show me the way?” 

“May I stay in your presence even as I walk the roads of this scarred planet?”

With God.

What must that be like? 

Well, what’s the most happy and content you’ve ever felt?  Even now, I rack my brain for the memories of contentment, peace, and love.   Most of them involve Bill and/or the girls.

Hiking with my Love on the water’s edge of Canada.  Fresh air, no agenda, good conversation, pausing for kisses and tree hugging.

Lying on my back next to my daughter on the picnic blanket—noticing the shine in her eyes as she stares up at the clouds and the flutter of her eyelashes as she looks back at me. 

Laughing hysterically with dearest friends.  Watching the moonrise.

Then, there is the time (or times) I fell on my face, sobbing into the comforter about who-knows-what.  Aching heart, mind tortured by worry, throat choking out a prayer—then, suddenly: unexplained peace swirls all around me and fills me up.  The ugly crying stops abruptly. 

Complete peace.

Immeasurable joy.

Perfect comfort.

Unending love. 

These are just four blades of grass in the million-acre field of what it feels like to be with God. 

No wonder a child’s deep desire is to ask God if she can go with Him, because with God is the answer to all our questions and the complete fulfillment for every longing. 

With God.  May that be the one longing of our heart.  And let’s remain in His presence until we can quite literally go with Him.