With Wisdom Comes Understanding

One definition of wisdom is seeing life from God's perspective. I know that God is way ahead of me in this area. First of all, He is God and knows all things. He knows what is behind me and He knows what lies ahead. The Lord understands woman because He lovingly fashioned her for His good pleasure. God knows me and comprehends my needs; therefore, He also knows, in His great wisdom, what is the very best for me.

Still, the Lord admonishes each of His children to gain wisdom. Read with me exerpts from Proverbs 3:

"Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding; for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her. And happy are all who retain her.

The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; by His knowledge the depths were broken up, and clouds drop down the dew. My son, let them not depart from your eyes -- keep sound wisdom and discretion."

What follows here is a question that we should all be asking ourselves: How do I gain this wisdom, this ability to see life from God's prospective? The answer is found in James 1:5-7, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

From this Scriptural rationale then, we understand why God sometimes allows us to experience an unanswered prayer, problems and trials, even pain and suffering. Wisdom tells us that what we want may not always be what is best for us. We must pray that the Giver of all good things will continue to grant us the wisdom to accept what He is not giving us, trusting that He knows what is best. It becomes apparent then, that we also must accept the Lord's perfect timing.

A double-minded man is attracted to the world and attracted to the Kingdom of God. He has one eye on the things of God and the other eye on worldly desires. He is truly unstable in all his ways. As daughters of our Heavenly Father, we must look only to Him, eager to know His character and at peace as we view the path ahead.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6.

Love, Karen