Are You Ready With an Answer?

I recently watched a video from a YouTuber who makes his living as a content creator. In this video, he warned against telling people if you do YouTube for a living because many don't understand what that means. He shared a story about meeting friends over the holidays. When they asked what he was doing these days, he struggled to explain his job as a YouTuber. His excuse was that he hadn't anticipated the conversation and wasn't ready with an answer.

I had to laugh initially, but then it got me thinking. Here was a man who talks to a camera for hours each week, uploading content about his life and work, yet he couldn't provide a simple explanation when asked about his job face-to-face. The irony struck me. But before I became too smug in my judgment, the Lord nudged my heart with a convicting question: Am I any different when it comes to my faith? 

How many times have we been caught off guard when someone asks us about our beliefs? How often have we fumbled for words when a co-worker, neighbor, or even a family member asks, "What's different about you?" or "Why are you so different from other religious people?" We know what we believe—at least, we think we do—but when the moment comes to articulate it, we stumble over our words like that YouTuber trying to explain his career.

The truth is, the questions will come. People are watching us. They notice when we respond to trials with peace instead of panic. They see when we choose forgiveness over bitterness. They observe when we maintain joy despite difficult circumstances. And eventually, they'll ask us about it. The question is: Are we ready with an answer? 

Peter addresses this very issue in his first epistle: "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15). Did you catch that? Be ready ALWAYS. Not just when we're at church or sitting in our quiet time with a cup of coffee and our Bible open. Always means in the grocery store, at the doctor's office, at family reunions, and yes, even when we're caught off guard during the holidays.

But here's the beautiful part, Peter doesn't just tell us to be ready. He tells us how. We must first sanctify the Lord God in our hearts. In other words, we need to ensure our relationship with Him is real and vibrant, not just a Sunday morning ritual. When Christ is truly Lord of our lives, when we're spending time with Him daily, when we're soaking in His Word and walking in fellowship with Him, the words will come. We won't have to manufacture an answer or rehearse a speech. It will flow naturally from the overflow of our hearts.

Notice also that Peter says we should answer with "meekness and fear." We're not called to be arrogant know-it-alls who beat people over the head with our Bibles. We're called to be humble witnesses who share the hope we have with gentleness and reverence for God.

So, how do we prepare ourselves for these divine appointments? First, we must know what we believe and why we believe it. Second, we must maintain a close walk with the Lord so that our lives back up our words. Third, we must be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, recognizing those opportunities when they arise.

The YouTuber in that video learned a valuable lesson about being prepared. Let's make sure we learn one too. The questions will come. Are we ready with an answer?