Unanswered Questions + The Gift of Abiding | Shawnee Community Christian Church

An Honest Conversation Over Breakfast

A few months ago, I was grabbing breakfast with our retired “big biscuit” group on Shawnee Mission. As we caught up, I mentioned how excited I was to turn 50 soon—thinking that reaching a real grown-up age meant I’d finally have everything figured out. They laughed right out loud, and honestly, they had every right to. We all carry this hidden expectation that at some point, the heavy seasons will magically pass and life will finally make complete sense. But real-life challenges don’t disappear with age. We often find ourselves sitting in the “messy middle,” wondering why we don’t know more by now.

A Neighborly Paraphrase of John 14:1-7

“Don’t let your hearts be heavy or anxious,” Jesus told His friends. “Keep trusting God, and keep trusting me. There is plenty of room in my Father’s presence—it’s an expansive home with space for everyone. I am going ahead to make sure a place is ready for you, and I will absolutely come back to gather you close, so we can always be together. You already know the way to where I’m going.”

Thomas, always the practical and literal thinker, spoke up : “Lord, we honestly have no clue where you’re going. How are we supposed to know the directions?”

Jesus looked at him and said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. Real life is found in knowing me and walking with me. By knowing me, you are already resting in the presence of the Father.”

Resting in the Messy Middle

For generations, people have taken verse 6 (“No one comes to the Father except through me”) out of context, using it like a theological grenade or a slamming door to gatekeep who belongs and who doesn’t. But Jesus didn’t offer this insight to Thomas as a declaration of exclusion. He was talking to a tight-knit family of friends on the single hardest night of their lives—right after Judas walked out and right before the arrest.

Jesus wasn’t handing out a checklist to get into heaven; He was offering a beautiful, restorative invitation to abide. To abide means to rest deeply in God’s grace, knowing that wherever we are, God already is.

We acknowledge with deep humility that the institution of the church has often harmed people by trying to draw lines around God’s love. That is why we actively reaffirm our commitment to being an open and affirming church. God is our home, a divine place of permanent belonging for all people. We are committed to throwing that door wide open, ensuring that no neighbor ever has to hide who God beautifully created them to be.

YouTube Chapters

• 00:00 – The Adulting Myth: Why reaching a milestone age doesn’t mean you instantly have life figured out.
• 03:15 – A Troubled Night at the Table: The heavy real-life challenges the disciples faced before the arrest.
• 06:40 – Unpacking the Misused “Gatekeeping” Text: How John 14:6 became a weapon instead of a promise.
• 10:10 – What it Means to Abide: Finding safety and receiving God’s peace in the thick of it.
• 13:55 – Reaffirming the Welcome: Our commitment to being an open, affirming, and actively repentant family.