God Wants to Give Me Wisdom

In review of James 1:5-6 this morning, I read  “If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won't correct you for asking. But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm.” (CEV)

James is talking not only about knowledge but about the ability to make wise decisions in difficult circumstances. When I ask, God will supply generously to help guide my choices. The wisdom from God is practical and helps choose the action to take. It is divine, it goes beyond common sense. It starts with respect for God, leads to living by God's direction, and results in the ability to tell right from wrong. It is also Christlike, and asking to be like Christ. 

I must not only believe in the existence of God but also in his loving care. Relying on and expecting that he will hear and answer. I must put away my critical attitude when I come to him. God will not grant every thoughtless or selfish request. I must have confidence that God will align my desires with his purposes. 

I know I’m going through rough times right now. I’m feeling the effects of the pandemic, the economy and my work and it’s taken a toll on my mental, physical, and emotional health. There are many uncertainties and questions about how to move on in this ongoing crisis.

James reminds me exactly what I should do when I don’t know what to do and feeling the pressure to do the right thing.

“If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won't correct you for asking. But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm” (James 1:5-6 CEV).

God isn't holding back wisdom. He gives wisdom to anybody who asks for it.

As I reflect on this verse, I haven’t asked God to give me wisdom on how to handle the pandemic, what to do about my job, my future, my family, or my health. God gives wisdom to anybody who asks for it.

King Solomon, one of the richest and most successful men who ever lived, had everything he needed and everything you could possibly want in life. But he still asked God for wisdom. He knew that riches and power and comfort meant nothing if he couldn’t make wise decisions. He wanted to honor God—who gave him everything he had—and so he asked for wisdom to know what to do and how to do it.

Wisdom helps me learn from any trouble I’m experiencing. It helps me to know what to do and how to move forward in a way that pleases God. God uses every challenge to develop, and not defeat me.

It may seem like the world is spinning out of control and circumstances keep changing day-by-day. My stress, fear, and worry may be at an all-time high.

But now more than ever is the time to ask “what,” instead of “why.”

Ask God what he wants me to learn from this time of crisis and what he wants me to do. He has promised to give me his wisdom in generous portions.

In summary, If I need wisdom, I should ask God, and it will be given to me. God is generous and won't correct me for asking. But when I ask for something, I must have faith and not doubt. In this passage, James is talking not only about knowledge but about the ability to make wise decisions in difficult circumstances. Wisdom from God is practical and helps choose the action to take. It is divine, it goes beyond common sense. It starts with respect for God, leads to living by God's direction, and results in the ability to tell right from wrong. It is also Christlike, and asking to be like Christ. I must not only believe in the existence of God but also in his loving care. Relying on and expecting that he will hear and answer. So put away my critical attitude and have confidence that God will align my desires with his purposes. Wisdom helps me learn from any trouble I’m experiencing. God uses every challenge to develop, and not defeat me. But now more than ever is the time to ask “what,” instead of “why.” Ask God what he wants me to learn from this time of crisis and what he wants me to do. 

Father, as I reflect on this passage, I realize that I haven’t asked you to give me wisdom on how to handle the pandemic, what to do about my job, my future, my family, or my health. I’m reminded that you give wisdom to anybody who asks for it. So I can rely on you to show me what is best for me. Therefore I ask you this morning for wisdom, and I will trust that you will give it to me so that my decisions will be sure and solid. I also ask for wisdom and guidance for my day, my tasks, my leadership and my interactions. May bitterness flee from my heart and that I be of assistance to serve. These things I ask for you in Son Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.