The other day, I had a decision I really needed to make and, although I’d been wrangling with it for a while, I was still stumped. In my desperation, I called my mom and begged, "Just TELL me what to do!” (Perhaps that wasn’t necessarily the mature approach...) But one thought led to the next and it made me think about how important God-given wisdom really is.

Sometimes the assumption is made that in order for one to be wise, they’ve gotta have a few years under their belt. Inversely, it’s assumed that the longer you’ve been around, the wiser you are. I guess both of those may be "safe assumptions,” but as with many assumptions, they aren’t always true.

In 1 Kings 3, Solomon asked God for wisdom/understanding. Although he could’ve asked for absolutely anything in the world, he asked for wisdom. Not a hot wife with good credit, not to win Publisher’s Clearing House, not a brand new car…the man asked for wisdom (ok, so maybe I’ve asked God for some of those things – minus the wife, add husband). He didn’t want to wait for life to beat him up before coming into wisdom. The Word of God is filled with reminders of the importance of asking for and using wisdom.

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote you; she will bring you honor, when you embrace her. She will place on your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory she will deliver to you.” - Proverbs 4:7-9

Life has a way of keeping us on our toes. There are always decisions to make; forks in the road that leave us scratching our heads and seeking advice from friends and direction from God. It’s all well and good to go to trusted (and godly) people, and better still, to lay our requests before God. But imagine adding a little wisdom in the mix!

Although the Lord emphasizes the importance of attaining wisdom, it’s not for us to forget our Source. He tells us to "lean not on our own understanding” and to acknowledge Him in "all our ways.” Our own human-wisdom (even though it’s a gift from God) is still just that – human. It is meant to be a supplement for ordering of our steps by God Himself. It is not meant for us to become independent of His direction. After all, He’s omniscient.

We are never too old, too young, too sinful or screwed up to ask God to grant us His wisdom.

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” - Matthew 7:11

I’m glad I had my Mom (my bestie) to run to, she couldn’t give me a step-by-step instruction of what I should do. I had to (and still am) spend time before the Lord, asking Him to make His way plain to me. I also had to face the facts of the situation, no matter how uncomfortable. Wisdom doesn’t always point you in the easiest direction, does it? Nevertheless, wisdom won’t steer you wrong.

Shari Grant is a Registered Nurse in South Florida, where she was raised in a (very!) Jamaican home. Some of the loves of her life are words (both reading and writing them) and missions work. She enjoys spending time with friends and family while living for a good laugh - one that makes her belly ache and her eyes water. Her bottom line goal in life is to make the Lord smile and maybe even serve Him up a chuckle from time to time, too.