Augustine and Pascal were right: We’re restless until we accept God’s love, forgiveness, and life. Until then, people are dissatisfied, even if they don’t know why. This becomes obvious when we take the time to listen to the life story of a neighbor.

In turn, they may ask you why God allowed the hardest episodes in their life. Instead of trying to explain “why,” I encourage you to ask them a question of your own: “Would you be willing to read the story of Jesus and then tell me what you think about it?”

You’re not saying, “…and then I’ll tell you what to believe.” You’re not leading a Bible study. You’re not leading a discussion. You’re simply inviting them to read a chapter or two, get together with you again, and tell you what they think about the chapter(s), especially as they relate to Jesus Christ.

Be sure to say “Jesus Christ,” then “Jesus,” not “Christ.” Yes, you and I are used to saying “Christ.” But others aren’t used to hearing it, and it often means something different to them than it means to you and me. My friend David Sanford said, “Our neighbors don’t fall in love with ‘Christ.’ They fall in love with ‘Jesus.’”  They don’t understand the concept of Christ.

What if God is using the hard episodes in your neighbor’s life to help them get to know and fall in love with His Son, Jesus Christ? If God is nudging you to share, please, please say yes.

This is Luis Palau.