The Waves of Circumstance

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”—James 1:5-8

Choices in life can be difficult to make. Where should I go? What should I do? What school do I go to? What job do I take? Whom does God want me to marry? When do I retire? What treatment do I get? Questions like these confront us on a daily basis. It’s at moments like these that God has given us an opportunity to use His gift of wisdom to make the right decision. We ask of God through prayer. But when we ask, we expect to receive what we ask for. Much like passing the salt at the dinner table. If I don’t ask you to pass the salt, then I don’t get it. But if I do ask you, then I expect you to pass it to me. God may not answer all of our requests the way that we prefer, just as the Father in His wisdom did not grant His Son’s request to “let this cup pass from me.” But when it comes to asking for wisdom, we can pray with confidence because, as today’s verse clearly states, anyone who lacks wisdom can approach God for it, and He will generously bestow it.

When we ask of God, we expect Him to answer our request. But, when we ask, we must ask in faith, that is, we ask with the belief that He will answer us in this regard and that He will give it to us generously. When we ask in faith, it doesn’t mean that we muster up our belief for God to do something, but it means that we believe or trust that God will answer. To doubt is to believe that God will not give us what we ask, or doubt the ability God has given us to determine what the best course of action will be. In other words, when we ask of God, we are casting an anchor to His promise of giving us the ability to discern the best decision. If we ask, but don’t believe or aren’t clinging to His promise, we are like a wave that gets blown along by the wind, refusing to use the anchor that God has given us.

The believer of immature faith will be tossed back and forth by every wave of the sea, but the mature believer will be anchored to the promise found within the Word of God. Part of the application of wisdom is the realization and application of Biblical truth to each and every situation that we may face in life. Without Scripture as our guide, we are babes unable to find footing in this world of competing worldviews. James, like Paul, is desirous that we grow in maturity,  

“So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes”—Ephesians 4:4.

My dear brother or sister, what situation are you facing right now that needs an extra dose of wisdom? Are you seasick from the circumstances you are facing? Or are you anchored to the truth found in God’s Word? What difficulty or trial are you facing that necessitates your action? Where are you looking for God’s direction? Ask of God who gives generously to all. He does not withhold wisdom, but gives it freely and willingly to all who ask in faith. And as the author of Hebrews said,  

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him”—Hebrews 11:6. 

We come to Him believing that He will answer us when we call. We may not audibly hear His voice, or see His hand, but we know that He is near by faith in what has been revealed in and through His Word; He is ready and willing to hear us when we call. Let’s do so and expect Him to answer. Amen.