Life Questions ( April 2026 )

Life Questions

Title: Ask Boldly. Live Deeply. Grow Honestly.

Intro

In this brand new section, Joseph Sebastian (social worker to youth) will provide answers, in the light of faith, to a life situation. Readers are encouraged to send their questions to the email mentioned below.

Article

Long back, during my third year of undergraduate studies, I found myself standing at one of those quiet but defining crossroads of life.

I was doing my BSc in Mathematics. Numbers made sense to me. Logic excited me. Proofs were satisfying. The natural next step seemed obvious – MSc in Mathematics or perhaps Computer Science.  That’s how most life decisions get made, isn’t it? We follow the logical extension of what we are already doing.

Around that time, an older cousin of mine and I were chatting over coffee. We were having the usual ‘what next after graduation?’ conversation.

In the middle of that ordinary discussion, she said something that caught me off guard: ‘Why don’t you try a Master’s in Social Work? It aligns beautifully with your Jesus Youth spirituality, and your desire to give back.’ Social work? Me? The maths guy?  I had no idea that there was a Master’s programme for social work let alone what it contained and what all it involved. 

It wasn’t a dramatic moment. No lightning bolt. No booming voice. Just a gentle suggestion across a table. That question stayed with me as I completed my graduation. However, another reality was unfolding. I had expected to move naturally into MSc Mathematics. I had studied sincerely, and I was deeply involved in my faith life through Jesus Youth. I had done everything right.  Somewhere within me was the quiet conviction that effort and faithfulness would align neatly with outcomes. But my marks fell just short of what was required. Doors I had counted on did not open. I remember the disappointment, even a deep anger with God. Why, after trying to do things right, did this not work out? Yet at home there was no blame, only space. Space to talk. Space to think. 

The more I reflected, the more it began to make sense. That small question over coffee became a doorway.  

The rest, as they say, is history – not neat or linear, but marked by the usual ups, downs, and confusions through which God quietly works.

But here’s what I learned from that season: Life does not come with a manual.  And perhaps more importantly, each life is different. What works for one person may not work for another. What looks ‘safe’ may not be aligned. What appears illogical may actually be vocation. And often, the right question asked at the right time can change everything.

That is why we are beginning this new monthly space – Life Questions.  Because questions matter.

We live in a time where young people are overwhelmed with information but starved of wisdom. Families are busy but not always deeply connected. Faith is available but not always examined. Choices are many, but clarity is rare.

And somewhere in between Instagram reels, career pressure, expectations, disappointments, silent struggles, and spiritual longing, real questions are waiting to be asked.  We are in an era where the young dare to ask – but finding wise responses is not always easy. 

Looking back, I realise that the turning point was not the course I chose. It was the questions I allowed myself to ask.

So let me begin with this invitation – ASK! Ask about your disappointments.Ask about your closed doors.Ask about your anger.Ask about your direction.Questions like: 

• How do I know what God wants for my life? 

• How do I deal with comparison?

• Why do I feel lonely even when surrounded by people?

• How do I choose between passion and security?

• How do I forgive when I am deeply hurt?

• What is success, really?

• How do I handle failure?

• How do I raise children in a confusing world?

• How do we balance ambition and faith?

• What does love mean beyond romance?

• How do I discern a vocation?

• Is it okay to doubt?

These are not small questions. They are life-shaping questions. And here’s the truth: silence does not make them disappear. If anything, unasked questions become internal noise. They turn into anxiety. Or quiet confusion. Or restless ambition. Or spiritual dryness.

A healthy life is not a life without questions. A healthy life is one that dares to ask them honestly.

This space is not about giving perfect answers. It is about beginning honest conversations. Some responses may be deeply practical; others may explore philosophical dimensions. At times we may draw from faith, Scripture, lived experience, psychology, or social realities. And sometimes, the response may simply invite you to think deeper rather than rush toward a conclusion. But all of them will be rooted in one conviction: Your questions are valid. Your journey matters.

To the youngsters reading this: don’t assume your questions are silly. They are not. If you are confused about career, relationships, purpose, faith, mental health, identity, or direction, simply ask.

To families, begin conversations at home. Let dining tables become spaces of dialogue, not just logistics. Let children speak. Let parents admit uncertainty. Growth happens where honesty is allowed.  But there are questions you may want to ask and this is one of the spaces for you too. 

To those who feel they should ‘already know by now’; remember, life unfolds in seasons. Even discernment matures over time.  And perhaps that’s the deeper philosophical truth here: We are not called to have all the answers. We are called to live awake.

• Awake to our inner stirrings.

• Awake to God’s gentle nudges.

• Awake to injustice.

• Awake to joy.

• Awake to discomfort.

• Awake to possibility.

As it did for me:

• Sometimes one question over coffee can redirect a life.

• Sometimes one honest conversation can heal years of confusion.

• Sometimes one courageous ‘Why?’ can become the beginning of purpose.

So this is your invitation.  Write in. Ask boldly. Ask sincerely. Ask anonymously if needed. Ask what you have never voiced before. Ask what keeps you awake at night. Ask what you are afraid to ask in public.

Let this not just be a column. Let it be a movement of honest living.

Because life may not come with a manual, but it does come with moments – moments to pause, to question, to discern, to grow.

And if we dare to ask deeply, we may just discover that the answers were shaping us all along.

So go ahead.  Ask. Reflect. Engage. Grow.

And let’s journey this: with clarity, courage, and a little holy curiosity.

Now… what’s your question – write to lifequestions@jykairosmedia.org. 

Author Profile

Joseph Sebastian, PhD is a social development professional

with a Doctorate in Social Work, having over three decades

of experience spanning multiple regions and time zones. He

has been actively involved with the Jesus Youth movement

since his undergraduate days. Passionate about mentoring

young leaders, he also walks closely with individuals and

families in their vocational journeys. Joseph is married and

lives in Kerala, India