“How you doin?”

I’m sure that like me you have had people ask you that question without actually wanting to know the answer. I see this in Christian circles all the time. We feel this compulsion to try to convince ourselves and others that life is perfect all the time. We don’t actually want others to know how we’re doing and we don’t really want to know how they’re doing. We would rather live life masquerading as though we were fine because we don’t want to face the challenging truths of our existence. There is pain. There is rejection. There is betrayal. There are deep questions that we need answers to. Time does not heal all wounds. Christians should be leading the way when it comes to confronting the truth but instead sometimes we are the worst at it.

So how can you be a catalyst for change? Ask someone how they’re doing and really ask. Next time somebody asks you, why not give them a real answer? If Jesus really is everything that we say we believe he is, then he can handle the depths of who we are even though we can’t. It doesn’t do us or those around us any good to pretend. Life is full of deep struggles and deep questions so let’s dive in instead of just treading on the surface. Ask someone how they’re doing and really want to know the answer. Really take the time to respond the next time you are asked at an appropriate time and resist the urge to pretend that you have it all together. Let’s take our relationships to another level.