Expect Joy!

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously without finding fault, and it will be given to him” James 1:5.

Yesterday I wrote about true joy and the pursuit of a life walking it out.  I was amazed this morning when my commentary joined the hands of wisdom and joy.  The reason I was struck by this is because at the beginning of my friend’s journey I had asked her how I might pray for her needs.  Throughout the last year she just kept asking for prayers of wisdom.  In my loosely translation of wisdom I naturally considered that she was asking for the knowledge to make good and important decisions regarding their life.  God was faithful in answering that prayer daily but what is mind blowing is the benefit of wisdom according to my commentary.  Simply written it states, ‘Wisdom enables one to face trials with pure joy.’ Joy is the by-product of asking and receiving the wisdom of God!  Her respond to whatever was thrown at her permeated joy over the past year and a half.

By asking for wisdom we are guaranteed the settle assurance that God is in the details of our dilemmas, the quiet confidence that what we are struggling with is already worked out by God, and the determined choice to lay down our problems and praise God ahead of time for His solution.  Through these exercises we enable the peace, love and knowledge of the mind of the Creator of the universe!  Now if that doesn’t make our problems seem less daunting nothing will.  We must practice patience in waiting for God’s wisdom.  God doesn’t delay the answer because He doesn’t know it.  God could drop the solution into our mind the second we ask but what would this accomplish?  Instant solutions do not foster fellowship and intimacy.  If we received the answer as quickly as it left our lips we would miss out on God working things out in our hearts and showing us things about ourselves.  He relishes most being our Father, not the resolver of our problems.  ‘He wants us to connect with Him and communicate with Him as the dearest relationship in human existence.  He delights to be our sole and holy source for all things in life.’ James - Mercy Triumphs, Beth Moore, p. 49.  The outflow of that wisdom that He disperses in His timing is the peace and joy that is promised in the Bible.

Human nature is to take short cuts to experience the path of least resistance, but when we do we forfeit fellowship with our Father.  So ask God for wisdom in your pressing problem today, and be assured, confident and patient thanking Him for His desire to share intimacy with you, and…

…expect joy!