HOW ARE YOU

How are you?
How are you doing today?
How’s it going?
These are questions you get asked many times
each day. If you are like most, you reply
quickly with the same answer you always give.
Fine, how are you?
I’m good, how about you?
OK, and you?
These questions have become customs in our
culture. They are as common as the handshake
and almost as meaningless. The handshake used
to be a bond or a promise. It was a guarantee
of a man’s word. “Let’s shake on it”. Today the
handshake has been replaced with a 14 page
contract drawn up by lawyers. A handshake
today is a mere pleasantry, something you do
upon meeting and greeting someone. When
someone extends their hand to you, yours
automatically extends to meet theirs, it’s
customary. In the same sense, we say “Hi” or
“Hello” as an expression of greeting. It comes
natural, we don’t have to work on remembering
to say hello when we greet someone. Hello, in
itself, requires no thought from the person to
whom it was directed. It doesn’t ask anything
of them, it is simply a pleasantry. Somewhere
along the way we added “How are you?” to
“hello,” but we really just lengthened the
pleasantry.
Let’s be honest, out of all the times you
have said, “Hello, how are you?” or “I’m
fine, how are you?” how often do you really
mean: I’m concerned about you. I love you
and care about you. I really want to know
what is going on in your world because I
want to know if there is a way I can help.
Now before you answer, let’s all remember
what our day to day life is like. We are all
very, very busy… multitasking, jobs, kids,
school, traffic, etc. Take a quick look at your
calendar… How many entries are listed for an
honest response to the question, “How are
you?” Do you really have time for three people
a day to actually tell you the truth? In fact,
do you really have the time to tell anyone the
truth when you’re asked? Do you have anyone
in your life that you trust enough to tell them
the truth if they asked?
Imagine with me for a minute that Jesus is
sitting across from you right now. He lovingly
smiles at you and says, “Hello, how are you?”
What is your response? Do you answer the
same way you do when everyone else asks? The
Creator of the universe has just asked how
you are. What do you say? What do you
trust Him with enough to share with Him? God
is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and
the end, He knows all things, and in fact, He
knows how you are doing right now better than
you do. Do you know how many hairs are on
your head today? He does. He already knows
any and everything you could possibly share
with him and yet He asks you… He gives you
the choice and the opportunity to talk about
anything you desire. Let’s imagine further that
Jesus speaks again asking, “Is there any hurt
place in your heart you would like Me to heal?
Is there any area in your life right now that
needs encouraging? Is there anything you
would like Me to speak to? Is there anything
at all I can do for you… or are you OK?”
Now our mind begins to race. Jesus has just
asked me if there is anything He can heal,
encourage, speak to or am I OK. Almost like
He was heading out to the store and said, “I’m
going out to get a few things, do you need
anything, or are you OK?” Do I trust God
enough to ask Him for help? Do I trust God
enough to admit to Him those places in my
heart that have been hurt? Do I trust God
enough with the areas in my life that have been
beaten down and need encouraging? Do I have
time to sit and talk?
Making room for people might be tough…
Making room for God is vital.
Matthew 7:7-12 The Message
Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for
what you need. This isn’t a cat-and-mouse,
hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your child asks
for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If
he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live
snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you
wouldn’t think of such a thing. You’re at least
decent to your own children. So don’t you think
the God who conceived you in love will be even
better?