“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
– James 1:5

Loosely defined, wisdom is the discernment or good judgment that enables us to look at a situation and respond or react accordingly. God cares about wisdom; in fact, He devoted an entire book of the Bible to it. The book of Proverbs is full of wisdom for living. So important is the topic that the first nine chapters of the book talk about the value of wisdom before mentioning any of the “how to’s” of wisdom. Here’s just a snippet:

“… Make your ear attentive to wisdom,
Incline your heart to understanding;
For if you cry for discernment,
Lift your voice for understanding;
If you seek her as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Then you will discern the fear of the Lord
And discover the knowledge of God.”
– Proverbs 2:2-5

Proverbs gives a myriad of examples of how to walk in wisdom: seek wise counsel; care for the poor; be honest in business dealings; listen more than you speak; etc. While these examples aren’t explicit promises that everything will always work to our liking, they provide guidelines for living that, when followed, give us the best chance of experiencing a godly, satisfied, fulfilling life.

I’ve noticed, though, that my prayers for wisdom sometimes seem unanswered. “God, should I get involved with this ministry or not?” Silence. “God, should I move across the country to be closer to extended family or should I stay put?” Nothing. “Should I buy this car or wait for a better deal?” Crickets.

Other times I think I know which way to go although each possibility brings specific challenges. “God, this new job offer seems like a great opportunity … but I would be leaving behind what’s familiar and a place where I’ve been fulfilled for many years.” So I take the job … and it is a disaster. Why would God lead me astray?

I’ve been slowly learning something that is changing the way I think about asking for wisdom. If I’m honest, when I pray for wisdom, it’s not actually wisdom I’m seeking. In the moment I would never admit it, but I am often asking God to tell me the right decision to make that will ensure me success and remove undue hardship from my life. I want God to tell me what to do … and I want what He tells me to “work” according to my liking! If I believe God has given me wisdom but things don’t work out as I had hoped, I am tempted to think that I heard wrong or that God has somehow led me astray.

Why would God devote so much space in the Bible (in Proverbs and elsewhere) making clear how I should approach life if He is always going to tell me exactly what to do? Wisdom is a way of life that allows me to discern right from wrong and helps me walk through difficult situations in a way that honors God. If I learn anything from Joseph, the Old Testament prophets, John the Baptist, Paul, and even Jesus Himself, it’s that walking in wisdom can lead to incredible blessings or great hardship (often both).

So as I’m learning about seeking wisdom, I’m asking God to help me understand the way I should live as I face decisions AND to help me to live with the consequences of that wisdom in a way that displays faithfulness and obedience to Him.