The Power of Why

“And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.” Acts 17:11 (NLT)

Have you ever been told “because I said so” and walked away still wondering why? Maybe you were just being curious, wanting to understand, not argue. There’s something sacred about asking why when it comes from a place of hunger, not pride.

The Berean believers give us such a beautiful picture of this. They heard Paul’s message about Jesus and didn’t reject it outright, nor did they accept it blindly. They leaned in with open hearts and open Bibles. They searched the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul preached lined up with the truth they already had.

There is grace in that kind of pursuit. God is not offended by your questions. In fact, He invites them. He wants sons and daughters who aren’t just repeating what they’ve heard but are grounded in truth because they searched for it themselves.

Faith is not meant to be passive. It’s meant to be personal. When you open your Bible and ask why, you are doing exactly what God desires. You are seeking Him. You are building a relationship, not just following a rulebook.

There’s something powerful that happens when truth becomes your own. You stop standing on borrowed beliefs and start walking in the confidence that comes from knowing Him for yourself.

So if you are in a place of questioning, don’t feel guilty. Lean into it. Open the Word. Ask God to show you what is real. And like the Bereans, you’ll find that when you search sincerely, truth always leads you to Jesus.

Reflection Question: What is one area of your faith where you’ve felt unsure or curious? How might God be inviting you to search it out with Him?

Prayer: Father, thank You for being a God who welcomes my questions and invites me to seek You. Give me a hunger for Your Word and a heart that pursues truth with grace and humility. As I search, lead me deeper into the knowledge of who You are. I want to believe because I know You, not just because someone told me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.