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. James 1:5 (NKJV)
Have you ever made an unwise choice? We all have. When we make poor decisions, often it’s because we didn’t go after wisdom in that area before making that choice.
Not all mistakes can be avoided, but a lot of them can. In fact, maturity, patience and wisdom can guide us around many of the trials we
encounter.
The next time we’re in the middle of a trial, we need to ask ourselves if there’s anything we could have done to avoid it. We also need to resist the temptation to blame others, the devil, our circumstances or God. Instead, we need to ask God to show us if there’s an area of wisdom we could grow in to better our situation.
But you can also ask for wisdom before trouble hits. If you pursue wisdom when things are going well, you can avoid a lot of trouble. Take courses and read books on marriage even if your relationship is strong. Pursue parenting advice even when your kids are doing fine. Go to business seminars that cover topics you haven’t encountered yet. A little bit of foresight goes a long way, and it’s so much easier to grow in wisdom when things are calm than when you’re under stress.
Whether you’re patiently holding your ground during a trial or you’re just exercising foresight, one of the best things you can do to overcome the trials of life is ask God for wisdom in decision making, because today’s verse says he’s going to give it to you liberally.