Team GotQuestions Blog

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The answering process … You are not alone

January 4th, 2015

Is it just me or is it the “easy” questions that take the most time to answer? I don’t know how many times after reading the “easy” question I’m like, “oh I’ve got this!” and then when I go to answer it I just sit there dazed and confused, typing and deleting, typing and deleting, typing and deleting and praying for God to take the block out of my head. OH and those times I spend hours answering a question only to reread it CORRECTLY right before I get ready to send it off- realizing I totally read it wrong and my answer then makes no sense. Back to the drawing board! Just wanting to know I’m not the only one of “those writers”

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  • Laurel J. Davis It’s happened to me more than once. Yeah, more than once.
    January 3 at 11:13pm · Like · 3
  • Ed Chait I think I’ve underestimated pretty much every question I’ve been assigned, so you’re definitely not the only one .
    January 3 at 11:15pm · Like · 3
  • Steve Ray Webb I always regret sending an answer immediately after writing it (even though I still sometimes do it). When I return to them with a fresh mind I invariably find they need significant edits. Will I learn from these mistakes? My Magic 8 Ball says, “Reply hazy, try again.”
    January 3 at 11:51pm · Like · 3
  • Lincoln Bostick Been there, done that, got the tee shirt and the hat
    Yesterday at 12:51am · Like · 3
  • Evan Plante I initially project myself into almost every question–and have often developed a “wrong” answer. But, that’s part of the process for me. A prayerful “gelling” before I hit the “submit” button prevents much mayhem (as does prayer that the Holy Spirit will do the work on the receiving end). Bless you, Gina Cook.
    Yesterday at 3:37am · Like · 2
  • Tim White I sometimes form what I want to say, but as I am typing it out, it goes into another direction. I walk by faith that this is the Spirit of God, and I usually learn a lot when I go back and read it.
    Yesterday at 8:51am · Like · 3
  • Dawn James Thought I was the only one, too! Really cool how the Lord uses these questions to build us up! I have read a few answers months later (as reference for a similar question) and I’m amazed that I wrote it! That’s when you know it’s the Holy Spirit and all I can do is thank God that He is directing my mind in the writing process!
    Yesterday at 12:35pm · Like · 3
  • Ed Chait I’ve also had the experience of quickly reading a question and meditating on it for a day or two. Then I reread it and see that what the person is really asking is not what I’ve been meditating on and researching . So you’re not alone there either .
    Yesterday at 1:22pm · Edited · Like · 2
  • Gina Cook Thank you all for helping me feel better! Yeah, I believe God helps me grow in those times the block in my head won’t go away easy because I pray more, I read God’s Word more and discuss more with my husband. And those times I misread the question I too think God uses those to grow me and excercise those “muscles”. Oh yes, Dawn James, I hear ya! I will read something I wrote months ago and say, there is no way I wrote that! God works in mysterious and wonderful ways.
    Yesterday at 1:27pm · Like · 3
  • Laurel J. Davis Oh, I definitely try to get my husband’s input. That helps to formulate and prioritize my thoughts. Most times I include his input.
    Yesterday at 1:46pm · Like · 2
  • Timothy Craig Munger You’re not Gina!
    Yesterday at 1:48pm · Like · 2
  • Gina Cook Yes, Laurel J. Davis, I agree. My husband helps me in that way too.
    Yesterday at 2:33pm · Like · 1
  • Gwen Sellers You are definitely not the only one!
    Yesterday at 3:36pm · Like · 2
  • Marc Weiss The harder ones tend to be shorter because GENERALLY there are less passages to go to find answers. The easy ones tend to have so much biblical backing that we tend to go to each passage to give a 360 view. Example: My end-times questions tend to be shorter because the answers are more general and if I tried to get so specific I risk distorting God’s Word AND giving every hypothetical. There are plenty of biblical passages here, but the specifics are slightly vague – and we know that because we all can argue over the timing of events. However salvation questions, while simple, tend to be really long and full of info.
    Yesterday at 4:06pm · Like · 3
  • Gina Cook Good point Marc, I agree.
    Yesterday at 4:09pm · Like · 1
  • Jeff Laird My answers come as quickly and easily as i can type, in total clarity and without second-guessing. They’re submitted within ten minutes of receipt, with a choral background. Then the cold medicine wears off, and I find they still need to be worked on.
    Yesterday at 4:09pm · Like · 5
  • Tim White Shorter ones are often less focused. Longer ones more specific. At least the ones I get.
    Yesterday at 4:09pm · Like · 2
  • Tim White Jeff, can you share with me the brand of cold medicine you use?
    Yesterday at 4:12pm · Like · 3
  • Jeff Laird It’s a generic I get from a guy who lives on my street.
    19 hours ago · Like · 2
  • Jeff Laird I figured if it’s legal in Got Questions’ home state, it must be worth a try…
    Yesterday at 4:51pm · Like · 3
  • Ed Chait Choral background. Always wondered what that was .
    22 hrs · Like · 1
  • Patrick Thompson I’ve tried highlighting the specific question within the long format that some of the questioners ask. I know there are times that I wonder if I really answered the question they are asking. Usually when this happens, I get another follow-up question. I guess it might be defined as a “do-over”.

 

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