We live in an age of answers. We have Google. We have Siri. We have Alexa. We have Wikipedia. We have entire libraries at our fingertips, searchable in seconds. When we have a question, we expect an answer. When we have a problem, we expect a solution. When we are confused, we expect clarity.
And we have brought that same expectation into our faith. We want answers. We want explanations. We want to understand everything. If we cannot understand it, we think something is wrong. If God does not explain it, we think He is hiding something.
But what if that is not how faith works? What if faith is not about understanding everything? What if faith is about trusting the One who does understand, even when you do not?
Here is something that has been rocking me: Jesus did not explain everything. And He was God. If God in the flesh did not feel the need to explain everything, maybe we do not need to either.
The Questions That Jesus Asked
Turn with me to the Gospel of John. The disciples are following Jesus, and they have questions:
"So the Jews said to Him, 'What sign will You show since You do these things?' This people said to Him, 'What will You do? Our fathers ate manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' Then Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.' Then they said to Him, 'Lord, give us this bread always.' And Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.'"
John 6:30-35They asked for a sign. They asked for proof. They asked for an explanation.
And Jesus gave them something else. He gave them Himself. He did not explain the sign. He became the sign.
This is what Jesus does. He does not always explain. He often redirects. He takes the question and turns it into a person. He takes the demand for understanding and offers Himself instead.
And then there is this, from the same chapter:
"But I told you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and died. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.'"
John 6:47-51They did not understand. How can He give His flesh for the life of the world?
And listen to His response to their confusion:
"Does this cause you to stumble? What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit and are life."
John 6:61-63It is the Spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing.
That is not an explanation. That is a redirection. He is saying: You are asking the wrong question. You are looking in the wrong place. The Spirit gives life. The flesh profits nothing.
We want explanations. Jesus offers Himself.
The Questions He Did Not Answer
And then there is this, from the Gospel of Mark:
"And His disciples asked Him, saying, 'Why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first?' But Jesus answering said to them, 'Indeed, Elijah indeed comes first and restores all things. And how is it written about the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be set at nothing? But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written about him.'"
Mark 9:11-13They asked about Elijah. They wanted to know the end. They wanted to understand the timeline.
And Jesus answered in a way that did not answer their question. He said: Elijah has come. And they did to him whatever they wished.
He did not explain the end times. He explained the present suffering. He did not lay out the timeline. He told them what was happening right then.
This is what Jesus does. He does not give us the big picture. He gives us what we need for today.
And then there is this, from the night before the cross:
"Thomas said to Him, 'Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?' Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also. From now on you know Him and have seen Him.'"
John 14:5-7We do not know where You are going.
Thomas did not understand. He was confused. He wanted clarity.
And Jesus said: I am the way. Not: Let me explain the way. Not: Let me draw you a map. Not: Let me give you a timeline.
But: I am the way.
That is what Jesus offers. Not understanding. Himself.
The Things He Could Not Say
And then there is this, from the Gospel of Mark:
"Then His mother and His brothers came, and standing outside they sent someone to call Him. And a crowd was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, 'Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside looking for You.' But He answered, saying to them, 'Who is My mother, or My brothers?' And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, 'Here are My mother and My brothers. For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.'"
Mark 3:31-35They wanted family. They wanted connection. They wanted to know who belonged.
And Jesus redefined family. He did not explain it. He did not give a theological explanation of who is in and who is out. He said: Whoever does the will of God is My family.
That is not an explanation. That is a revolution.
And then there is this, from the night when everything was failing:
"Now about that hour Jesus said to the crowd, 'Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to arrest Me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. But all this has been done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.' Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled."
Mark 14:48-50All this has been done that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.
That is the explanation. That is all He said. The Scriptures have been fulfilled. This is happening because it was written.
He did not explain the suffering. He did not explain the betrayal. He pointed to Scripture.
This is what Jesus does not do: explain everything. This is what He does: point to what is written. Point to the Father. Point to Himself.
The Faith That Does Not Need Answers
So what does this mean for us? It means that faith is not about understanding everything. It is about trusting the One who does.
I know what it is to want answers. I know what it is to lie awake at night, trying to figure things out. I know what it is to read the Bible looking for explanations rather than for relationship.
But here is what Jesus offers: not answers, but Himself. Not clarity, but presence. Not understanding, but the One who understands.
If you are looking for answers, you will be disappointed. If you are looking for God, you will find everything you need.
Faith is not about having all the answers. It is about trusting the One who does.
"Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Hebrews 11:1The evidence of things not seen.
If you could see it, you would not need faith. If you understood it, you would not need faith. Faith is for the things you cannot see and do not understand.
That is the nature of faith. Not understanding. Trusting. Not knowing. Believing.
The Question That Should Change Everything
So let me ask you: What are you looking for? Are you looking for answers? Are you looking for explanations? Are you looking for clarity?
Or are you looking for God?
If you are looking for answers, you will always be disappointed. God does not explain everything.
But if you are looking for God, you will find what you need. Not answers. Him. Not clarity. Presence. Not understanding. Love.
That is what Jesus offers. And that is enough.
Try This Today
Ask yourself honestly: Am I looking for answers or for God? Bring that question to Him in prayer. Ask Him to help you find Him more than you find explanations. The things you cannot understand are not obstacles. They are invitations to trust.
Jesus did not explain everything. And that should comfort you.
Because if God explained everything, you would not need faith. If God explained everything, you would not need trust. If God explained everything, you would not need Him.
But He left things unexplained so that you would need Him. So that you would trust Him. So that you would find your all in Him.
That is love. That is grace. That is the way of faith.
Father, thank You for not explaining everything. Forgive me for needing answers when I need faith. Teach me to trust You even when I do not understand. Let me find You more than I find explanations. Let me love You more than I love answers. You are enough. In Jesus Name, Amen.
With honesty and hope,
Claire