“God doesn’t have grandchildren.” The thought captured my attention. As I pondered it, I began to understand: We may grow up in a Christian home (as I did), but sooner or later we each need to make our own commitment to Christ. We are invited to be God’s children – in a personal, direct relationship with Him – not His grandchildren in a relationship mediated by our parents or anyone else.

As we begin to own our beliefs for ourselves, we naturally seek what is true. But how do we know? How do we separate truth from that which would lead us astray? What do we do with the facts of this world that often seem to oppose what we have heard about God? And how do we reconcile the existence of suffering with a loving and powerful God?

Warning before seeking the truth

When I first arrived as an international student at Regent College over a decade ago, someone gave some advice I have not forgotten: Hold tightly onto the truth that I know is true.

We were fresh students, eager to make new friends, explore the beautiful city of Vancouver, and learn more about God. Except some of that learning included unlearning some faulty perceptions we held.

Our faith would be shaken, tested, deconstructed before it would be built up again on a better foundation. (Of course, Jesus Christ is the only adequate foundation, but sometimes we have weird perceptions of what Jesus is like, and that will not do.)

The same advice is applicable here as we go about seeking truth, despite doubt on the doorstep and other voices which seem to crowd out truth’s quiet whisper. Hold onto what you know is true.

For some of us, the truth we are certain of goes way back to childhood: Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so… If that is what you can hold onto, then grasp it tightly as you dare to explore the rest of your beliefs.

Tips for seeking truth

• God promised the Israelites that all who seek Him with all their heart will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). If He speaks the truth, then let us take Him at His word! Let’s set our hearts to seek God earnestly. We can’t come to this “experiment” with an agenda to prove God is a certain way. We must set aside our perceptions and our preconceptions.
• Jesus also promised that the Holy Spirit will lead us – His collective followers – into all truth (John 16:13). We can ask God to lead us into truth as we seek Him.
• The best place for seeking the truth is in the Bible, God’s words to us. We nourish our spirits (and the rest of ourselves) as we hear truth, and our faith grows stronger. This is why it is so important to be reading Scripture regularly, whether we are learning something for the first time or reminding ourselves for the tenth time.
• We can learn from other Christians through sermons or books or podcasts, but cautiously. We must examine the lives of the people we listen to – they must bear good fruit that lasts. The Bible warns that there will always be false prophets, and that we are to stay away from their teaching, holding fast only to the good news found in the Bible.
• We can ask God for a word, a revelation, an encounter with Him. One thing I notice when I read about Jesus in the gospels is that He is very interruptible. He was on his way to a child’s deathbed and stopped to interact with a woman who needed healing (Luke 8). He wasn’t irritated by her; He commended her for her faith. Jesus is not constrained by time or resources. He would love for you to come to Him, reach out to Him, ask Him the questions that are on your heart. Though we do not live for these experiences, God delights to reveal Himself to us like this at times.
• When we lift our eyes to God and His Word, we take our focus off ourselves and our circumstances. It’s easy to doubt or fear when we confront a huge mountain in front of us. But it’s just as easy to be at peace when we lift our eyes to God, who is infinitely greater and sovereign over every mountain.
• We must steward well the truth that we do have. If we’re going to squander or damage small treasures, God will not entrust us with greater treasures. But if we are faithful with small things (“spiritual” and “unspiritual”), God will entrust us with spiritual truths (Luke 16:10-12).
• Part of our responsibility of stewarding truth is to shape our lives around the truth, not the other way around. It’s silly to go around telling everyone we are unlovable if the truth is that God loves us dearly; or that we are ugly, but the truth is that God made us beautiful.
• Truth is ultimately a person: Jesus Christ (John 14:6). When our faith is faltering, what we need most of all is Jesus. A simple but powerful prayer is, “Jesus, I need you,” or “Come, Lord Jesus.”
• Doubts are okay. Sometimes we push the doubtful questions out of our minds, for fear they will shatter our faith. Dare to voice the doubts. A true diamond will withstand all the tests. Our faith will be stronger for having been tested. But we should also be willing to repent from unbelief if applicable.

Some brief thoughts on suffering

I’ve been studying the book of Revelation with a group recently, and I find some of its message so encouraging:

• Suffering is certain – for those in the church and those not in the church (i.e. everyone).
• Suffering is not meaningless, especially when we glimpse God’s perspective of history – as John did when he saw the visions that make up the book.
• There will be an end to suffering for those who believe Jesus is the son of God.

I encourage you to keep seeking the truth! May you be drawn closer to Jesus, who is The Truth. I haven’t even touched on how to read the Bible in context, but these tips will get you started down the right road.

Jesus invites us, “Follow Me.” We may not know where He is going, but we know He will always be with us. And – though it may take some time to believe it – that is all we need.

PS, Perhaps you’re not in need of these reminders, but you have friends who are. I encourage you to read back through this post and pray each point over a friend.

To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. (Jude 24-25)