A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of understanding draws it out.
Proverbs 20:5
Every person carries within them unexplored questions, uncharted territory, undiscovered potential, and so much more that is hidden and tucked away within the human heart. Day-to-day responsibilities bury many of these mysteries, yet get- ting access to them is the key to helping unlock hidden treasures. What is the tool of the trade for gaining understanding? A question. A question has the ability to unearth hidden knowledge, buried memories, wisdom, and the ability to get someone talking who might otherwise be locked up or labeled a “quiet type.” We all need someone to ask us deep, insightful, penetrating questions that capture our hearts.
A question within the hands of a good listener can set the direction of the discussion, create positive emotions within the conversation, set the mood of the atmosphere, create desire, and so much more. Questions can be used to:
- Show you care by the areas you probe and how you listen.
- Plant seeds of thought for future discussion.
- Make a point with a rhetorical question.
- Get a person thinking in a specific direction.
Next time you are in conversation, consider spending most of your time listening and the rest asking questions. Start your sentences with one of the 5 W-Brothers: Who, What, Where, When, Why. With every question you ask, you are one step closer to gain- ing the wisdom and understanding that Solomon often wrote about in Proverbs. Like a ladle in a pan of soup, a question can draw out understanding, experience, and hidden wisdom from deep within.
REFLECT TO CONNECT
- How often do you ask questions vs. make statements during discussions?
- Have you developed a questioning roadmap that leads a conversation to the desired destination?
- What important questions come to mind that you should be asking yourself about your own life?
Asking the right questions can be more important than knowing the answers.
