You have likely heard the saying “curiosity killed the cat.” This old adage serves as a warning to tread lightly, to think clearly, and to respond carefully. Curiosity, like so many other things, is not in and of itself a bad trait. However, if left unbridled it can be downright dangerous, particularly to our faith.

Curiosity can drive us to not just seek truth, but discover The Truth (Jesus). Curiosity can fuel creativity, lead to amazing discoveries, and open doors that otherwise would have remained closed.

However, when our curiosity is knocked out of phase it can rob us of opportunities, steal our joy, and the most tragic, it can kill our faith. Scripture warns us that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). While having all the answers before we take a step guarantees us safety, it removes from the equation any need for faith.

I have watched more than a few people struggle to step into the life of faith their heart’s desired precisely because they could not get all of their questions answered. If it were possible to have all the answers (which we could not) then we would be like God, which is part of the original lie the serpent used to deceive Adam and Eve. Not only that, but the more answers we require, the less faith we need.

I have seen over and over again in my life that, in time, God often reveals the answers to us and that His silence has nothing to do with keeping us in the dark, and everything to do with strengthening our trust in Him.

Ultimately our faith grows when we obediently follow God into the unknown—which is good! Likewise, when we demand answers, it is not our faith, but our religion that is increased. A religion that will continue to fuel our desire for answers and choke off our faith as our curiosity drives us further and further out of phase.