Hey, Jesus? A Real Question for a Real God

If you were to write down one question for God right now, what would it be?

No filters. No fear of judgment. Just the raw, unedited cry of your heart.

Recently, I was preparing for a women’s retreat when God gave me a vision—one where questions were floating everywhere. If every thought, doubt, or longing we carried was visible in the air, the room would have looked like pure chaos.

Because we’re carrying a lot, aren’t we?

Some questions are small. Others gut-wrenching. Some we whisper in the dark and hope no one hears. Like, Why did they leave? Will it ever get better? Do You even see me, God?

Just look at the headlines. Not long ago, I read about little girls swept away in a flash flood while attending church camp. Innocent lives, taken too soon. It doesn’t make sense. And in moments like that, I find myself asking the same thing you probably do:

“Why, God?”

We all ask questions. And truthfully, not all of them will be answered on this side of eternity. But I believe this: the questions that feel massive today may fade the moment we’re standing face to face with Jesus. Somehow, the awe and wonder of His glory will quiet our desperate need for answers.

But in the meantime, here we are—living in the tension between questions and faith.

So let me ask you this:
What is your question?
And more importantly…
What will you do with the answer?

Because it’s one thing to cry out to God. It’s another thing entirely to receive what He says—especially when it’s not the answer we wanted.

What if you ask, “Why does everyone leave me?”
And God gently responds, “They don’t want to leave… but your pain pushes them away. Give that pain to Me.”

Then what?

You can keep building your emotional walls. You can isolate and reinforce the narrative that makes you feel safe.
Or—you can let God into those broken places. You can let Him heal. You can let Him shine light on the lies you’ve believed—not to shame you, but to replace the falsehood with truth.

That’s the invitation:
Bring your real questions to a real God.
And be willing to lean into whatever He says in return.

When the First Question Was a Lie

The first question in Scripture wasn’t asked by a prophet or a priest—it was asked by the enemy.

Genesis 3:1
“Did God really say…?”

That question wasn’t about discovery—it was about deception. A seed of doubt. A twisting of truth.

Satan still works this way.
He whispers:
“Did God really call you?”
“Did He actually forgive you?”
“Is He really going to provide?”

And if we entertain those questions too long, our footing starts to slip.

I’ve lived this.
When my husband and I were called to pastor our church, God made the purpose clear—but not the timeline. We thought maybe two years. It’s been twelve. And over time, I’ve heard the whisper:

“Did God really say…?”

That question led Adam and Eve into hiding. Suddenly, they felt exposed, ashamed, vulnerable. And just like them, we have to learn how to discern the voice behind the question.

Because not every question leads us toward God.
Some lead us away.

God Asks Questions Too

In that same chapter—Genesis 3—after the enemy speaks, God responds. Not with a lecture, but with His own questions. They weren’t for information. They were invitations.

“Where are you?”
“Who told you that you were naked?”
“Have you eaten from the tree…?”
“What is this you have done?”

God’s questions are different.
They bring us out of hiding.
They challenge the source of our shame.
They invite confession and connection.

They always move us toward healing.

The Enemy’s Five Questions

Satan only asks five questions in the entire Bible—but each one carries the same dark agenda: deception, accusation, manipulation.

Here they are:

“Did God really say…?” (Genesis 3:1)
“Does Job fear God for nothing?” (Job 1:9)
“Have You not put a hedge around him…?” (Job 1:10)
“Skin for skin!” (Job 2:4)
“If You are the Son of God…” (Matthew 4:3, 6)

They weren’t questions. They were traps.

How Do We Respond?

Discernment begins with knowing the source of the question.
Satan brings confusion and chaos.
God brings clarity and peace.

The Bible contains over 3,300 questions. Some are asked by God. Some by people. Some by the enemy. That alone tells us something powerful:

Questions matter.

They’re part of how God reveals truth.
But they’re also one of the enemy’s favorite ways to distort it.

So here’s what I’m asking myself—and maybe you can ask it too:

Which questions are drawing me closer to God?
Which are pulling me further away?
Am I ready to hear the truth—even if it costs me something?

Listening Isn’t Enough

“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” — 1 Samuel 3:10
“Do not merely listen to the word… do what it says.” — James 1:22
“To whom much is given, much will be required.” — Luke 12:48

Hearing God requires something of us.

Humility — admitting we don’t know it all
Surrender — laying down our expectations
Releasing Control — trusting His voice over our fear

It’s not easy. But it’s worth it.

Because disobedience has a cost.
There are callings delayed, miracles deferred, and moments of destiny missed—not because God wasn’t speaking, but because we weren’t willing to listen.

So… What’s Your Question?

Maybe today is the day to finally ask it.

Write it down. Whisper it in prayer. Offer it up with open hands.

And then… listen. Not just with your ears, but with your heart.
Listen through His Word. Through wise voices. Through unexpected moments in His presence.

Because He still speaks.
And when He answers… be ready to respond.

“Speak, Lord… I’m listening.”