Have you ever felt like you're just wandering through your faith? Going through the motions of Sunday service and quick morning prayers, but without the deep, personal connection you long for?
For much of my life, my faith felt a lot like that, although I didn't really realize it until recently. I had been given a beautiful foundation. A faith passed down from my family, taught to me in classes, and reinforced by the church I grew up in. I knew the stories, I memorized the verses, and I could tell you what I believed. But as a new mother, with a tiny, vulnerable life in my arms, I started asking the question: Do I really know what I believe? Or do I just know what I've been told?
At first, my questions felt like doubt, and doubt felt scary and unsafe. But as I sat with it, I began to see it as an invitation. God was calling me to move beyond simply knowing about Him and into truly knowing Him. I began to feel excitement and an eagerness to dig deeper into His Word and learn about biblical accounts in a way that was personal and soul-shaping. I began to wonder, rather than wander.
Wandering suggests a restless mind, just passing through life without a clear purpose. We wander when we fill every quiet moment with a podcast, when we consume information about faith without truly digesting it, or when we check off spiritual boxes without engaging our hearts. It's the spiritual equivalent of staying on the surface, moving from one thing to the next without ever dropping an anchor.
But wondering is different. Wondering is an intentional act of holy curiosity. It's a choice to be present and to ask a different kind of question. It’s an invitation to sit at the feet of Jesus, just like Mary in Luke 10.
So, what does this wondering look like in your own life? Especially when you feel like you have so little free time? Wondering isn’t something that requires hours of study or elaborate rituals. It’s a posture you can adopt even in the small, in-between moments of your day.
Here's what I've been doing in different seasons:
1. Slow down with a single Scripture. Don’t try to read a whole chapter or a full devotional. Choose one verse and sit with it. Ask God, “What are you showing me in these words today?” You’ll find this nourishes your soul in a way that a quick scroll through social media never could.
2. Journal your questions, not your answers. You don't have to have it all figured out. Write down your questions, fears, and hopes in a dedicated journal. This isn't about solving them; it’s an act of bringing your whole self before God. As you look back, you’ll begin to see how He was working in the midst of your questions.
3. Learn from podcasts. Instead of aimless listening, try tuning in to podcasts by theologians and biblical scholars. Let their studies and insights inspire you. This is a beautiful way to sit at the feet of others and let their deep understanding of the Word help inform your own.
4. Watch documentaries. Our faith is rooted in historical truth. Watching documentaries that explore the evidence for major biblical events—from the Flood to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus—can really help you understand that the proof of God is all around us.
And just a reminder: The goal isn't to have all the answers; it's to fall more in love with the One who holds them all.
So let’s trade the rush for a moment of quiet curiosity. Let’s choose to wonder instead of just wander.
Know someone who likes diving deep into their faith and thinking about things differently from the rest of the world? Our One Thing Needful and Abide in Him gift boxes are filled with thoughtful tools to help her quiet her heart and create space for a deeper, more intentional relationship with God.
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