Intimacy over Answers

By Osbert Wei

Why? When? How? Who? What?

We all have questions. We all desire answers, but God just doesn't seem to help me out. When will God answer my prayer requests that I have been prayer for forever? Will God tell me who I am going to marry? Does God understand that I need him to perform a miracle in this instant? Where is God?

If you are like me, you want answers, and you want them now. The beauty of our faith is that God wants something more--intimacy with you. What I have written is not designed to solve your specific problems or answer your specific questions but to consider something even greater, more beautiful, and magnificent.

Waiting, questioning, God's silence, you name it, we've all been through it.

Let us, however, consider the Answer that's been given to us already--Jesus.

Allow me to begin a conversation with you on what it means to seek after intimacy with our heavenly Father more than pressing for answers to our questions. Let a relatable brother in Christ share some of his stories and experiences with you.

When you understand that this life is more about intimacy than answers, you will be freed of anxiety, worry, and fear and be able to freely, confidently, and boldly step into the calling that has been given to each and every single one of God's children--the Great Commission.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: May 6, 2022
• ISBN: 9781639033300

Book preview

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Intimacy over Answers

Osbert Wei

ISBN 978-1-63903-329-4 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63903-330-0 (digital)

Copyright © 2021 by Osbert Wei

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

The Struggle

Chapter 1

Waiting

Chapter 2

Questioning

Chapter 3

The Silence of God

The Process

Chapter 4

Trust

Chapter 5

Who Are You Becoming?

Chapter 6

Your Calling

The Cure

Chapter 7

Intimacy

Conclusion

About the Author

Preface

Hey! Thanks so much for picking up a copy of this book. Before you dive into the contents of this brief work, I want to tell you a little bit more of how this project came together.

It was spring 2021, my first semester in grad school. I recently graduated with my undergrad in psychology. The plan was to continue in this wonderful field, but that reality came to a close as I no longer felt the joy or desire to pursue a master’s in psychology. Along with having the trajectory of my near future shattered, I was also awaiting a response from a recent interview I had with the Office of Spiritual Development at Liberty University regarding a position in the department that would grant me a scholarship and would be telling of where I would settle for the next few years in life. Long story short, I was in a state of wonder, curiosity, frustration, impatience, doubt, questioning, and confusion all mixed together to produce a jumbled-up Ozzy (my nickname).

Gradually, the concept of intimacy over answers began brewing in my heart. Thinking through this for some time, it would frequently pop up in conversations or meals I would have with people throughout the week. Over the span of a couple of weeks, more and more thoughts were building up, so much so I felt as if the Lord was wanting me to do something about it. I just had no idea what. Maybe a sermon?

Lo and behold, one of my friends asked me if I had ever thought about writing a book. (If you know me, I have never talked about writing a book or even the thought of it.) Not surprisingly, I chuckled and brushed it off.

My response: No. I’m not a writer.

Little did I realize that initial conversation was a seed that would come to grow into what is now the book you are holding.

Eight days is what it took to put this manuscript together.

Eight.

I have never written a book before nor understood how to even begin that process. But somehow and someway, I now have a published work available for distribution.

What I hope you consider as you spend some time reading this book is the genuineness of the season I was in and the length of time I spent typing this content up. Because this book came together so quickly, there may be some funny sentences, poor grammar, a spelling mistake or two, possible misinterpretations of Scripture, ideas only briefly developed, and jumbled-up ideas crammed into a few pages. I don’t mind that, however, because that’s what makes this work special—a twenty-year-old college student with a lot of stuff on his mind, hoping to articulate what most people are going through, have gone through, or will go through in their lifetime (especially young adults).

My hope is that I can relate to you and that you won’t read this book with a critical eye. If I may, I request grace from you. This is my first book (hopefully not my last), and I’m just happy it’s all put together and out there. Enjoy my thoughts and begin conversations with people around you!

Pretend we are simply hanging out. Maybe we’re out for coffee or on a walk. And you are hearing about what I went through recently.

Laugh at some of the jumbled mess you’ll come across.

See if you can relate to the hardships I discuss.

And if you remember nothing from the following pages, remember the perfect loving father God is.

Introduction

What if I could tell you right now what your future looks like? What if I could explain to you why that tornado had to hit your house? What if I could bring you closure on that past relationship that didn’t work out?

Answers. We all love answers. But why do we love answers? Answers bring us a sense of closure and understanding. They give us affirmation, they support our arguments, and they bring us clarity. We don’t like being confused or incomplete. We want full explanations of every happening in our lives. Discomfort arises from a lack of perceived stability, like if you will be able to make the next mortgage payment or knowing your parents’ marriage is on the line. Sometimes, the hardest response to receive or admit is I don’t know.

I don’t know why your dad left you.

I don’t know why you are still single.

I don’t know why that person is not saved yet.

I don’t know why God has not revealed to you the next four years of your life.

I don’t know the answer to that question.

I don’t know if it’s predestination or free will.

I don’t know how to help you.

How about this one? I don’t know why Jesus died on the cross for us.

Wouldn’t an answer to any of these questions bring you closure to some extent? When we know, we feel in control. It’s when we don’t know that drives us crazy. When we don’t know, one of two things can occur: we continue to trust, or we scrounge around for even the slightest answers to our deepest inquiries, accepting any form of information as long as it’s related to our situation.

David, in Psalm 13, cries out:

How long, O lord? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?

How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day?

How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? (verses 1–2, ESV)

Jesus, on the cross, questions, Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani? which means, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46, ESV)

How long? Why? These are some of the deepest longings of some biblical figures’ hearts as they lived a life of faith and not sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Hurting as much as they did, David and Jesus still understood the majesty of God. In his tone, David believes God is who he says he is and is still faithful. He is simply wondering, How long? Jesus, in his pain and suffering on the cross, calls out, "My God, my God, and (here is the key word) Why have you forsaken me?"

If a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14) and the Son of God proceeded to inquire of God and want answers, how much more legitimate are our curiosities? Amidst times of uncertainties, anxieties, and unanswered questions, I would like to propose a cure: intimacy with our heavenly Father. Not knowing how to manage extended periods of unanswered questions can give way to detrimental outcomes. Some may say they go crazy, others are filled with confusion, and many lose motivation and hope.

You may not know your future. You may not know the answer to why your mom had to die of cancer. But one thing I can promise you is this: you can know the one who is sovereign and in control of every micro-being in this universe. And he wants to spend time with you.

Testimony after testimony will tell you that drawing closer to the Father changes everything. Instead of seeking out specific answers to life’s pressing questions, why don’t we meditate on the answer: God.

I would like to invite you on this journey, exploring this practice of choosing intimacy with God over scrambling and pouting