If you are a parent of a young child, you are no doubt inundated by questions from your child throughout the day.. You tell him, “Put your shoes on if you’re going outside.”
“Why?”
“Don’t touch the stove.”
“Why?”
“Mommy, what are you doing?”
“I’m fixing dinner.”
“Why?”
This might be exhausting at times, but the Bible tells us a lot about someone who was always asking questions. And he was not a child. He was a grown man, a disciple of Jesus and the one Jesus eventually chose to become the leader of the early church. That man’s name was Peter, and he asked a lot of questions.
So, why did Jesus choose him? I believe Jesus saw in Peter a man who, as impulsive as he was, had a genuine interest in the things of God. Not only that, he had a thirst for information and wanted to make sure he was doing the right thing. Because Peter asked so many questions, Jesus knew He could trust him with His important work.
Have you ever come away from a discussion only to realize you had not gained the information you would have liked to gain? Or, you are no more knowledgeable about the subject than you were before? You don’t want to wear others out with endless questions, but if you ask the right ones with appropriate spacing between them, you may not only be helping yourself, but others as well.
In order to benefit from a conversation, before you begin you should do the following:
- Plan. Think about the topic of the conversation and what you hope to get out of it. Consider all angles and possibilities.
- Prepare. Make up a list of questions you can ask that will give you more information and understanding.
- Pray. Ask God for wisdom and guidance.
- Be attentive. Listen carefully and wait on the opportune moment to ask your questions.
These points will work well whether you are having a discussion with your boss, spouse, medical practitioner or coach. As long as you are respectful and have a pleasant approach, you will come away with the information you need and be better able to make wise decisions.
If you choose me as your coach, I would expect you to ask questions, and I will do my best to answer them. If I don’t know the answer, I will say so and promise to find it out. If you don’t ask questions, I would assume you are not really interested in knowing what I have to offer. So ask!
