7/29/2025
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him
ask of God, who gives to all liberally and
without reproach, and it will be given to him."
James 1:5
After almost three-quarters of a century of living, one would think I would have more confidence in myself, but, sadly, there are times when wondering comes in. Not the good kind of wonder as in "Wow, look at that beautiful sky!" when I'm admiring the gifts of creation. No, this is more of a "I wonder if I said the right thing, or if I did the right thing? What if someone thinks I'm dumb? What if? What if?" That kind of mind wondering that is not always beneficial. Tonight, for example, before our prayer meeting began, the leader called on me to pray. She was substituting for the group leaders who were out of town, so she wanted to open in prayer. Many times after I pray in a group that is still relatively new to me, with new members coming in all the time, my mind goes blank. This is really silly, since all I do is talk to the Lord like I'm talking to whoever is reading this blog. Fortunately, I did just that, and all was well. I was so relieved. I know the word very well, and I have memorized it all my life, so I can share it, such as in prayer. But sometimes little things get me wound up.
It's not that I doubt God, I doubt myself sometimes. I've never been shy about asking God to explain things to me that I don't understand. In fact, I talk to Abba about everything, all the time. I remember my son thinking I was talking to myself, when we first started living together. Especially, when I laugh at what I think God is saying back to me, or almost visualizing Him shaking His head, as if to say, "There she goes again!" We have a good time laughing at me, but when I "wonder" I ask Him.
There's so much insanity and division everywhere these days, that I can understand it if someone ran and hid in a hole. Many times I have felt like that myself, just dig a hole and climb in until the "crazy" is over. But, it's not that easy these days. Many people are searching for truth in a world full of lies and cover ups. When the truth is exposed, people still want to doubt it is true, because it's easier to believe a lie sometimes. The enemy of this world has blinded the eyes of so many Christians, that the name "Christian" is getting a bad rap. Why is it easier to believe a lie than to simply ask for answers? Is it easier to believe someone whose answers are veiled in secrecy? Those who are attempting to find out the truth get scoffed at, branded as conspiracy theorists, and blamed for things falsely to throw the attention off on someone else. This is a mad world!!
The Lord, on the other hand, is always available to teach us the right way, tell us the whole truth, and answer our doubts, without accusing us of being ignorant, or the questions as being stupid, irrelevant, or any other insult; God does not heap on condemnation. We can go to Him, ask Him anything, and He will gladly help us. Sometimes the answer is as simple as picking up our Bible, our spiritual guide book - God's word, so it is 100% accurate and trustworthy. Perhaps, He'll seem to whisper in your ear, or the whirlwind of your mind, as He did Elijah, when Jezebel tried to kill him, or when Moses was asking God for help at the Red Sea, with Pharaoh and his troops on his heels. God simply asked Moses what he had in his hand. Many times, he'll ask us questions like that. He told me to get up off my face from the rug, that He needed me for something. That was shocking to me. Again, doubt. But I'm glad I did, and I haven't been down that rabbit hole since. There are times when the answer does not come right away, as there's something to be learned, perhaps? It's a matter of "trust Me."
David, the Shepherd King, often cried out to the Lord, doubting, not knowing what to do. In Psalm 42:5 David asks: "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance." Then again in verse 11, he repeats the question: "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God." David realizes that there is hope in God, and he picks himself up with praise on his lips. David spent a lot of time shepherding his sheep, getting to know and trust His God. In Psalm 32:7 David calls God his hiding place: "You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance." I can't tell you how many times these verses have been a comfort and a song in my heart. The scriptures call God our Rock, our Fortress, our High Tower. All day on Tuesday I kept singing the words of Proverbs 18:10: "The Name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe." Over and over I sang and repeated these words. Then when we had our prayer meeting that night, these words brought reassurance to someone else. That's the way God works. All we need to do is trust Him. He will show us the way.
Right now I lack wisdom about a great many decisions that need to be made concerning this home. In the great scheme of things, this is a small problem, as the weight of the world is much heavier than my home getting repaired. But God cares about even the small things that matter to us, so I simply ask for Him to direct my steps, to order them aright, as the word says do. The word says if anyone lacks wisdom, so I'm asking. I can ask Him anything, anytime. May He receive the glory, the honor, the praise.
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