The “I Have All the Answers” Trap
Reflect
My daughter was getting ready for work the other morning. She has a full-time job now—PTL! I’m proud of her. But she’s also discovering that working full-time means less time in the day to do everything she wants. As she and my wife were talking through her time management struggles, of course, I jumped in with my dad-voice: “Just don’t do it.” Problem solved.
But the moment the words left my mouth, I knew what I had just done. I didn’t listen well. I didn’t give her enough space to wrestle with her issue. Thinking it was the loving thing to do, I was ready—again—to fire my solutions.
Return
My quick words and failure to listen tell a bigger story. My pride was in full color again. I am a recovering addict of my own righteousness. In this case, it was the “I have all the answers” righteousness that feeds my ego. It’s the belief that she will be okay if she does what I say. Once again, I confess and repent of this fleshly desire to build my righteousness apart from Christ.
Receive
I’m thankful the gospel tells me a better story. At the cross, Jesus paid for my pride, my impatience, and my “I have all the answers” righteousness. And not only did He crush my sin, but I received His full record of righteousness as mine. So I don’t have to look to my “I have all the answers” righteousness—I look solely to my Savior’s righteousness as mine.
Rest
So I receive again the promises of the gospel. I cherish the fact that Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor. I have a Savior who never cuts me off mid-sentence (just look at the Psalms!). Jesus lets me pour out my confusion, my fears, my doubts, and my sins in His sovereign goodness toward me. Christ walks with me at my pace and opens my eyes in His time.
Respond
My failure to listen reminded me of when Jesus walked on the road to Emmaus with His disciples (Cleopas and an unnamed disciple). He didn’t start with, “Here’s the answer!” He began with, “What things?” (Luke 24:19).
If the Son of God could walk patiently with people who didn’t get it yet, I can slow down too, like my Savior. The Spirit empowers me to love with fewer words because I am home again in my Abba Father’s house.
