“But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it. But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind.”
James 1:5-6 NABRE
There have been plenty of points in my life where I have asked God for the wisdom in my decision making and in the same breath, I made decisions contrary to that wisdom. This verse speaks volumes to me—both a promise and a lesson.
I took a job last year where I had to travel. When I had started interviewing for jobs, my one requirement had been that I would not have to travel, but as I interviewed and it became apparent that my skill set aligned with jobs where travel was required, I began to doubt myself.
Would travel be that bad?
Maybe it would be fun to travel again.
I’m sure we can figure it out.
I had prayed about returning to work, and I felt the Lord was steering me to return to work. The other thing the Lord had also shared with me in prayer and in consulting with others was knowing my limits and finding something that could ebb and flow with family life.
The problem was the job opportunity that fit that description didn’t seem to be popping up for me, so when I got an offer for a job that required travel (and weekend and night work and did not ebb and flow with my family life), I took it.
I know! What was I thinking? Let’s just say I’ve been “tossed about by the wind” for a good part of the last six months. I circled back to prayer with God, this time not doubting God would tell me the right thing. I listened, and I resigned from my job.
The Lord will give us wisdom in our decisions, but He requires us to listen and trust in His wisdom through the gift of faith. He promises to give this wisdom generously and ungrudgingly, but we have to ask without doubt that God will give us wisdom or that He gave us wisdom.
The things He puts on our heart to help us make decisions and discern next steps in our life, that is Wisdom direct from the Omnipotent, All-powerful God. Listen to Him with faith! Believe He will give you what He says He will: the power to make wise decisions.
Don’t be like me and after asking for wisdom, ignore it only to find yourself backtracking, trying to get your feet back on the ground. Remember you are chosen and appointed, and He will give you strength to do what you are called to do. We just need to have the faith to believe in His generosity and His gifts.
When I reflect on this verse, I imagine wisdom as an anchor the Lord has handed me. Wisdom helps me withstand getting blown far off course, tossed about. Wisdom grounds me, so that I don’t become distracted with chasing something I’m not meant to explore. Wisdom is always there to keep me steady when I need to pause my journey before driving ahead.
How has wisdom anchored you? I pray that you have greater faith than I in the generous gift of wisdom that the Lord willingly gives to each of us.
Leave a Reply