Knowledge and Wisdom

God is bringing about some incredible changes in my life as of late. He has led me to make decisions that many people do not understand. I understand that they do not understand. But I also understand that I serve a real and an amazing God. I understand that sometimes He asks us to do things that don't make sense to the world. He whispers His words to me in confirmation of these things. He speaks my friends. In the Bible, in those He has called to preach His word, in the words of godly friends, in our own thoughts without us even knowing. The beauty happens, the magic, if you will, when we hear Him. When a feeble human opens her heart to her maker and desires to hear Him. When she waits and struggles and agonizes and feels nothing. When the light breaks through the tiny break in the clouds and bursts through ever so softly. When the first light of day breaks on the edge of the horizon and grows into the full light of day. When there is a moment of peace, even when a storm sits on that same horizon, even when it is inevitable that the sun will sink again below the opposite horizon. When what C. S. Lewis said becomes real to us. "I believe in [God] as I believe the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." 

And in those moments truth holds new meaning. I believe it is a truth that wisdom can only come from God. It is in my nature to seek knowledge. To know a lot is to be successful. Being smart enough to make money with knowledge is the measure of a person's worth. This is an unspoken idea whose shadow I have grown up under. Is this true? Some people will say yes. Some people will say, partly. Some people will say it is all ridiculous. Into this God speaks truth. "Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight" (Prov 9:9-10). And into this truth, God spoke to me. "Release to me your pursuit of knowledge, my child, so that I can give you wisdom."

I share this moment I had with my father because I believe many of us have found ourselves in pursuit of something. Pursuit of something good, but pursuit that we are not seeking alongside Christ. We hold on so tightly to things, wanting to succeed. Sometimes we need to adjust our grip or let go altogether so that we can take hold of Christ. Because with Him, those desires, those talents, those passions will see a new meaning, a new satisfaction and success. I warn you, it can hurt. For God to take control of something we may have to go through more pain than we signed up for because what we are letting Him take may be so deeply rooted in us that He is going to have to do some major surgery. To that I say, pray, read, seek. Sometimes pain is a warning that we are going in the wrong direction. Sometimes pain is a confirmation that we are right where we need to be. You must allow God to speak His truth and reveal this to you for your situation. I pray for you, right now, that whatever you are facing, whatever God wants to do in your life, you will be willing and you will be obedient. To live in His light is worth more than anything. And I mean anything.