Soul Scientist

Welcome to part 2 of a few thoughts of mine on the importance of asking questions!

Here’s a link for part 1 in case you missed reading it last week:

https://soulscientistblog.com/2026/05/11/asking-questions-part-1/

We also see this principle of using questions to deliver truth with many renowned teachers and authors in history including Socrates, Plato, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien. Some of my best teachers have instructed me through asking question after question of me. Likewise, I remember hearing once that all great books come from trying to answer good questions.   

Similarly, science is all about asking questions. Science operates on the premise that every question answered by experimentation will produce at least 3 other good questions to be explored in further research.

Hence, most scientific theses, dissertations, and research journal articles have a section at the end labelled something like “questions for further research” or “questions for future consideration.” And it’s not uncommon for the question section to be the most frequently read part of those kind of publications.

Questions aren’t only a great framework for scientists, teachers, and writers. Questions can shape our days and thus, our lives in ways we didn’t know need changing.

More importantly, as Christians, we need to see and know the true heart of a matter. The most effective lies are those which are 97% or more true.

We cannot recognize lies without knowing what is true.

Thus, questions are a great way to know the truth and be set free by it as seen in John 8:32 ESV which says: and you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.

I really want that kind of full and free life found only in my Jesus. And I just bet you do, too.

While praying and pondering for this talk, I used a journalistic approach as my framework in preparation for this talk. In other words, I asked those questions of who, what, when, where, why, and how. And here’s a list of questions I realized I should be asking myself daily while faithfully seeking their answers by studying Scripture with prayer, and a bunch of prayer, at that:

1. Who is Christ to me today? John 3:16, Colossians 1:27, and Hebrews 2:8
2. What is Christ’s plan for me today? Romans 12:1-2 and Psalm 19:14
3. Why is Christ in me today? 1 Peter 3:9 and Romans 8:28
4. When is Christ with me today? Hebrews 13:8 and Romans 5:10
5. Where is Christ leading me today? Proverbs 3:5-6 and Matthew 6:33
6. How is Christ seen in me today? Philippians 4:6-7 and Proverbs 15:1

I’ve found all those questions reveal the true motive and intention of my heart for questioning God and those He puts in front of me each day. Many of my questions to God and to others arise from my own arrogance thinly disguised as insecurity.

What I really want to know from my questions is “will this make me look good?” or “will this earn me recognition or respect?.” What I really want to gain from my questions is to hide that I don’t feel if I’m enough for this task, this trial, this temptation.

But isn’t being not enough the real answer in and of itself?

The answer that I’m not enough and never will be displays the truth that Jesus will always be enough. In fact, the truth is that Jesus is far more than enough in power, providing, and protecting in every situation and scenario.

And when that truth of His presence and provision begins to change my motive and to change me is when others can see my Jesus alive and at work in and through me. Mary, mother of Jesus, captured that idea with her question about Jesus’ birth to the angel in Luke 1:34 ESV “How will this be?” followed by her statement of truth in verse 38 of “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Her response is in sharp contrast to my knee-jerk reaction of asking, “why me, Lord?.” Mary’s humble and obedient response shows me the question I should be asking: the question of “what needs to change in me for You to bring good from even this?”  

Please be sure and check back in next week for part 3 of asking questions. And please bring a friend (or 3!) along with you – there’s always room for more questions and more folks, too!

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written by and copyrighted to Beth Madison, Ph.D., 2026.