Asking or Questioning: What’s the Difference?

Laurel Hill interviewing her dad, Peter | The Voice of Zion June/July 2025 - Round the Table Article --

Laurel: Is there a difference between asking to understand and questioning in doubt? How would you explain the difference?

Peter: Questioning in doubt can cause me to feel troubled. It’s hard to believe something is God’s plan when it causes me to feel stressed, especially with a big decision. It depends on the topic whether it’s questioning or doubting. 

Sometimes we just don’t understand everything either, and that’s okay. In that case, it’s good to openly visit with fellow believers about the matter. We can remember that when conversing with believers, the Holy Spirit is present and can guide the discussions, giving acceptance and understanding where it’s needed. It’s good to visit with humility and with love, accepting rebuke and correction. Jesus says, “Where two or three are gathered, there am I in the midst of them.”

When we have questions or doubts about believing we can discuss them with believers. When we do it in that way, the Holy Spirit will guide us. Even if we don’t understand, we can accept that too. That’s not what gets us to heaven. Keeping our faith is what gets us there. When the Pharisees asked Jesus questions with the intention to trap Him or make Him say the wrong answer, then they were doubting Jesus. They were blinded to His teachings and didn’t have faith, so they didn’t believe Him. 

What do you think?

Laurel: I think it definitely depends on what someone is asking. If someone genuinely doesn’t understand something and they feel troubled, that is a good time to ask to understand. 

Next question: how can asking (to learn) and questioning (in doubt) affect your faith?

Peter: If we’re asking to listen and to learn and we have the right heart, that is important. We can remember that the Pharisees were likely not asking to learn, they were asking because they doubted Jesus. We need to have the right heart that wants to believe when we’re asking or have concerns. The Pharisees had hearts of unbelief.

Laurel: The right heart is the most important factor in this situation. How can you tell if you are asking with trust or questioning because of doubt?

Peter: If you’re asking with trust, maybe your heart is troubled and wants the guidance of the Holy Spirit. If you’re full of questions and doubts, it might be a good time to ask yourself: do I have unforgiven sin that needs to be taken care of? Maybe you just need the care and fellowship of other believers to help get through a difficult trial.

Laurel: Christian fellowship certainly is important for youth. It can feel intimidating to ask a question you need answered, but as long as you have the right heart, the Holy Spirit will guide the discussion. What should you do if God doesn’t give an immediate answer to your questions?

Peter: We can pray for acceptance and peace from God and ask Him to calm our minds and give us His peace. It is important to remember that part of Jesus’ teaching is that He gives us peace in the form of the Holy Spirit or Comforter. He doesn’t give us the peace that the world gives; He gives heavenly peace. This is a peace for our spiritual side, the undying soul. We also can remember that we aren’t saved by knowledge. It doesn’t get us to heaven. Faith is what gets us to heaven. There are many things we have little understanding of, and that’s okay. We don’t need to understand all matters to get to our eternal home.