Ask the Lord for Wisdom

Discernment is important when we are going through trials because divine wisdom, the illumination of the Holy Spirit in our lives, is what enables us to see trials in the light of God’s perspective and within it.

God is using those seemingly terrible and difficult circumstances to bring about a good end and Christian maturity, moral and spiritual growth, and to lead us more and more to reflect the character of Jesus Christ perfectly.

And in all these things, we need to understand what God is trying to do, what part of our being He is working on through our trial, so that we can walk that difficult path close to God. How interesting and beneficial it would have been, for example, for Job, as he was going through his trial, to have understood what was happening in the spiritual realm—that controversy between God and Satan—and that God was using the terrible trial he was going through to bring glory to God through the faithfulness he was showing: despite all the losses he was experiencing, he still remained steadfast in God.

If Job had understood this in the spiritual realm, I imagine it would have been easier for him to go through the trial he faced. If we could better understand what God is doing through a trial, perhaps we could endure it with more patience. Ask the Lord for wisdom. I believe wisdom is one of the most important things in the Christian life—even more than power. In fact, I believe wisdom should be one of the qualities we ask the Lord for most, because when we have wisdom, we know how to ask God, we know how to submit areas of our lives to God, we can teach and build up others, we can interpret the Word of the Lord and draw out its teachings, and then apply those teachings for Christian growth and also gain access to the great riches of the Word.

So, to me, wisdom is one of the most important things. In human relationships, too—in marriage, in finances, in so many things—wisdom is absolutely essential. And James says: hey, ask the Lord for it. If you find yourself in a situation of difficulty, perplexity, or confusion in your life, go to the Lord and ask Him for wisdom.

And James says that this is one of the things the Lord is most willing to give us. When we ask the Lord for wisdom, let us not wonder, “Will He give it or not?” Let us believe. James says that God gives generously and without reproach. God gives in this way with regard to everything, but particularly with wisdom, it is as though God takes special delight in answering these prayers of His children. In any situation of confusion or dilemma, or when we need special illumination—a major decision we have to make, a spouse we have to choose and marry, a difficulty concerning a profession, what we are going to study, where we are going to live—asking the Lord for wisdom and discernment is absolutely essential. And we can count on the Father’s desire to answer our prayer abundantly and without holding back.

And James adds that we should ask in faith, without doubting. In other words, if we are going to ask the Lord, let us believe that He is more than willing to give us wisdom. I have learned by now that when I ask the Lord for wisdom, He always gives it to me. So I ask with great confidence, and I see that He always answers me in one way or another.

James points out here the importance of faith. When we pray, when we ask the Lord for something, let us make sure we ask while trusting in the generous character of our Father, who is willing to respond to our needs. James says: look, if you are going to ask the Lord, ask Him with confidence; believe that He is willing to answer you. Because if you ask with doubt, thinking, “Ah, let’s see whether He answers me or not,” or thinking, “No, He won’t answer me; this is too trivial or small,” or, “God is too busy to answer my request,” then doubt in us is an obstacle to receiving from the Lord.

When we ask the Lord for something, we need to be clear that, if this is of God, I have a Father who is willing to answer my prayer. His character is generous, and therefore I can approach the Throne of Grace confidently, as the Bible says, to receive the timely help I need. We cannot be ambiguous or ambivalent about anything—not only wisdom, but any area of our lives. Rather, we must come to the Father with confidence, boldness, clarity, and conviction, and believe that He will be faithful to answer us if we are asking according to His will.

So let us ask the Lord with confidence, and of all the things we can ask Him for, let us ask for wisdom to discern His purpose in every area and at every moment of our lives. God bless you.