One night recently, I told God that I had no idea how to respond to a touchy situation. I wasn’t smart enough. I wasn’t wise enough. I just didn’t have the EQ to handle it. So, I turned off the lights and went to bed, totally in the dark—in every sense of the word.
The next morning, I woke up and browsed Instagram. I know…I should have opened my Bible first. Busted and guilty. God still got to me.
One author I follow had uploaded James 1:5 that morning. Superimposed across a beautiful background were these words:
And just like that, God slugged me between the eyes.
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. Click To TweetJames has always been one of my favorite books. Why hadn’t this come to mind the night before? I don’t know.
Maybe God wanted to make a point.
Maybe I had been looking more at the situation than the solution giver.
Maybe just because his mercies are new every morning.
I thought about the verse all day. This was my solution—ask God for wisdom. Later that day, while scrolling through Facebook, guess what I saw? Same verse different friend.
God was answering loud and clear.
Do you have a tricky, touchy, emotionally upsetting obstacle that you have to deal with? Don’t know what to do?
Ask God.
Here’s what really impacted me when I read the verse this time around: the part that says, “…who gives generously to all without finding fault…”
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I’m afraid to ask questions. Will the expert ridicule me for not knowing the answer? Will they laugh because what I don’t know is so elementary to them? Will they judge because I should have asked the question ages ago? Will they ask to see an associate’s degree before giving me bachelor-degree content?
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I’m afraid to ask questions. Click To TweetIf anyone has a right to those types of responses, it’s God. But that’s not how he responds. James promises that God won’t find fault, but that he will freely give us the wisdom we ask for. The word here for ‘finding fault’ is oneidizō and it means to reproach, upbraid, revile (either deserved or undeserved).
Do I deserve to be reproached for coming to God for wisdom as a last resort?
Yes.
Will I be reproached?
NO!
What could be better than that?
However, wisdom opens the eyes to responsibility. What does that look like? I think first and foremost it looks like having my eyes opened to my own sin. Getting a true view of my own culpability in a situation. Understanding what steps God wants me to take to become more like him.
Maybe that’s what Jesus is talking about in Luke 6:39-42:
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
I went to bed asking God for wisdom. I thought that would look like knowing how to advise someone else. What it really looked like was becoming a tiny bit more like Jesus. Suddenly, the plank wasn’t so much of a plank anymore.
I went to bed asking God for wisdom. I thought that would look like knowing how to advise someone else. What it really looked like was becoming a tiny bit more like Jesus. Suddenly, the plank wasn’t so much of a plank anymore. Click To TweetThings to Consider:
Read Proverbs 2:6 & James 1:3
When was the last time you asked God for wisdom?
When was the last time you asked God for wisdom? Click To Tweet*Written for Pierce Point Community Church blog. See original here.
If we pay attention God is usually sending us the answers before we even remember to ask Him. I am amazed by how He works it all out just as I need to hear an answer. But then, why would I expect anything less from our loving God. Jeremiah 29:11
Exactly, Yvonne! Why would we expect anything less? He constantly amazes me with his faithfulness.
Thanks for this excellent reminder of our need for God’s wisdom.
Thank you, Jonathan. It’s so easy to forget, isn’t it?
The last time I asked God for wisdom was last Friday when our son took his nursing entrance exam. He had studied so hard and had failed the test three times by this point. We both prayed for him and asked God to give him wisdom at each point in the test. While my son was taking the exam he got stumped on one question; the stopped. Prayed and asked God for the wisdom to understand what the question was asking. As he waited, God provided and He did so with great generosity. He not only passed the exam, he passed with an A! God does indeed give us wisdom if we ask. 🙂 Great post! 🙂
Wow, Marcie. What an amazing story and testimony to the influence of Godly parents. Congrats to your son! I’m sure he is super excited. God is so good.
This post is beautiful! I am always in awe of how God speaks to me and reveals answers to me before I even think to ask him for wisdom. Thanks for this sweet reminder!
He is so good to us, isn’t He? I love how He provides even what we don’t know/don’t remember to ask for. What a good Father.
Great post! I have found that humility is the first step for me to get closer to the Lord. When I admit I can’t figure it out, that’s when God meets me. Until I can admit I need him to help, he’s content watching and smiling. Wisdom seems so undervalued by this culture. Knowledge is prized more highly, but letting God make me more like Jesus is way better. Thanks for the encouragement.
Watching and smiling. I love that. He’s the loving Father, waiting for us to ask for help. You are so right, Chip. We can have all the knowledge in the world and still not look like Jesus. Thanks for reading.
I have often said that God taps me on the shoulder two times and hits me on the head the third time while trying to get my attention. I have tried to handle things on my own and nothing worked out. The times I remember to ask God for wisdom, discernment and revelation are the times I learn many lessons. He brings me peace. 🙂
This makes me smile. I’ll have to remember your saying because it’s so true. I know I’m very thick-skulled. I’m glad He never gives up!
Thank you for the reminder, Stephanie! I try to ask Him for wisdom every day, We are in a season of making BIG choices in our lives and we don’t want to make choices that aren’t pleasing to Him. He wants to hear our prayers and pleas! So beautiful, isn’t it?
Yes! To live hand-in-hand with God is such a breathtakingly beautiful privilege. And so often I take it for granted. I’ll be praying for God’s continued guidance as you move through this season of big choices.
His patience with us is amazing. And his grace in answering our requests is too!
Yes it is, Nancy. His patience and grace:). Thank you for reading.
Powerful and convicting post, Stephanie. This…”Maybe I had been looking more at the situation than the solution giver.” Yes, I’m busted too! 🙂 I love that verse, James 1:5, may we take it to heart and run to God for insight and wisdom.
I’m busted so often. I’m so glad He expects growth and not perfection.
The kindness of God shines through your post! We ask, even later than we should have, maybe even after seeking all other solutions first, and yet, when we turn to him, he is gentle. There’s no reproach or condemnation. Instead, he gently pours out his wisdom. Great reminder! Nice to meet you, Stephanie!
Nice to meet you as well, Melinda! What a wonderful revelation that was for me to understand there was no condemnation or reproach. You’re right. He is so gentle and gracious.
Dear Stephanie!
Sometimes the best solution to a problem is to sleep on it.
I’m also afraid to ask those critical questions every now and then. However, I’ve learned that asking questions in one of the best ways for me to learn new things and get better at something.
Have a good one . . .
Edna Davidsen
It’s amazing how quickly an answer comes in the morning. Or even in the night:).
“To acquire wisdom is to love yourself;
people who cherish understanding will prosper.” ~ Proverbs 19:8
By learning wisdom, you are actually learning to love yourself!
Great post – thanks for the encouragement!
Great point, Lisa. Thanks! And thanks for reading. 🙂