James 1:5-7 (NIV) “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. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.“
Are you stuck in a sticky situation, not knowing how to get through it?
I’ve been there! What do you do?
I suggest you reach out and ask someone smarter than you, because obviously, you don’t have the answer! (lol)
The problem is we often throw out a quick popcorn prayer to God to ask for help. However, we don’t believe that He heard us or that He cares enough to bother with us.
It’s kind of like calling someone up and talking to them, but then ending the conversation with, “You probably didn’t hear a word I said,” and hanging up. What’s the person on the end of the phone supposed to do with that?
The good news is that He does hear and He does want to give you the wisdom you need for this moment. In fact, He goes one step further by saying “without finding fault!” He’s not even pointing the finger at you saying, “Stupid you. You got yourself into this, so get yourself out of this!”
This wisdom that He offers is unconditional… well kind of. You just gotta believe that He’s on the other end of the line listening to you, and that He’s there for you. That is the one single condition!
Your prayers can’t be like the waves of the sea, up and down depending on the circumstances or feeling of the moment. He either exists or He doesn’t. If you don’t believe He is there for you, then don’t bother Him, because He’s not gonna be bothered with your prayer. (That was harsh, wasn’t it? Sorry! But, that’s a lose interpretation of that verse.)
That’s where faith comes in. Faith is believing what you can’t see. Believing that God loves you enough that He’s listening to you (which He is). And, that He’s willing to help.
Remember though, it’s His answer to give, not yours. His wisdom doesn’t always provide an instant solution.
- Sometimes it’s a step-by-step process, not a giant leap.
- Sometimes it’s a learning, growing moment.
- Sometimes it’s not the answer you want to hear.
- Sometimes it is the answer you want to hear :).
- Sometimes it’s a “sit back, wait, and be patient” answer.
- Sometimes you look back years later and can see how He helped you weave your way through it, though at the time you were blinded by the forest in front of you.
- Sometimes, the answer is no, like when Paul asked God to take away the thorn in his flesh, and God answers instead, “My grace is sufficient for you.”
- Sometimes He answers with a miracle. (Seen plenty of those!)
But He does promise to never leave you and to walk through those sticky situations with you. So, go ahead and ask Him for help. He’s a whole lot smarter than you are! 🙂
Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.”