“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5
Our six-year-old daughter recently spilled juice all over a hardwood floor. She instantly realized:
1) she’d made a mess and,
2) it might be in her best interest if she could clean it up before a parent spied it.
She ran for the mop, and bless her heart, spread that juice in a nice, even layer across the floor!
She failed to see the floor cleanser on the shelf next to the mop, so she successfully created a wonderfully sticky substance which effectively adhered to unsuspecting family members feet in the kitchen.
She had the best of intentions!
She realized she had made a mistake, and tried desperately to make amends. But in her attempt, she only made matters worse.
What went wrong?
Some of the same situations many of us create for ourselves in our own spiritual lives.
First, when she realized the problem, she did not stop and consult anyone for help. She set out alone, alone with her mess.
How many times do we jump right in making amends before confessing to God, and asking for His guidance? Maybe we think the mess is a minor one, mainly because we can not see all the possible consequences of our “remedies.” So we go it alone, creating a monster of a mess from a minor one.
Second, she didn’t use all the resources. Beyond the mop, and an adult helper, the cleanser sitting on the shelf could have made short work of the accident. But she never saw a resource directly in front of her.
How often do we look in God’s word to assist us with our daily dilemmas? If you feel you don’t know exactly where to turn in Scripture when facing a specific problem, a quick search on the Internet will yield more than a few suggestions, and takes only a moment.
Thankfully for our daughter, a parent appeared and she received an explanation as to what needed to be done and together they scrubbed the floor clean.
God knows our needs for assistance. Even when we jump in alone, He’s willing to help us, if we just ask.
Reflections:
Monday: Think about the last time you tried to remedy a mishap alone. How did that experience end?
Tuesday: What is my natural problem-solving reaction? Do I reach out to God immediately or do I go at it alone, completely independent?
Wednesday: Read James 1:5. It reads, “whoever.”
Not a “holy” person.
Not a “good” person.
Whoever.
Do I ever fall for the lie that God doesn’t want to hear from the likes of me?
Thursday: In the end of James 1:5, God tells us He will give “generously, and without reproaching.” Do I see how He has been generous to me?
Friday: Prayer: Heavenly Father,
How blessed am I that You sent Your son to die for me. Whether the issues which trouble my heart are large or small, You care about them because You care about me. May I remember, from the depths of my soul, to first carry my cares to You. Thank you for always loving me, Amen