And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. 1 Kings 3:8 (ESV)
What do you do when you need to make a decision but don’t have a clue what to do? It’s common to feel pressure to make the right decision and fear the decision you make will be the wrong one. I still feel insecure when facing important decisions because I’ve reaped the consequences of some wrong decisions in my own life. There’s nothing more frustrating than someone saying, you just need to obey God! I don’t believe obedience is always the main issue—sometimes it’s wisdom. I need wisdom–-not personal opinions—to make good decisions. Without wisdom, how can I possibly know how to make a wise decision?
The first person who comes to mind when I think about wisdom is Solomon. If you’re not familiar with his story, I encourage you to read it in 1 Kings. King David was Solomon’s father. When David died, he left Solomon the legacy of the kingship of Israel. Solomon was faced with the responsibility to lead the Israelites and build the temple while grieving the loss of his father. Solomon was only a young boy, so what could he possibly know about leading God’s chosen people? He certainly didn’t have experience as a king, yet God chose Solomon to be Israel’s king. Solomon didn’t call advisors or a leadership team to set his policies; he called upon his God for wisdom. Solomon learned from his father to turn to God when faced with what appeared to be an impossible situation. I love that Solomon was honest and authentic with God when he felt overwhelmed with what appeared to be an impossible situation. Perhaps humility and authenticity are two of the keys to unlocking God’s wisdom. Solomon acknowledged that it was God who placed him as the king of Israel, so it would be God’s responsibility to give him the wisdom to lead God’s chosen people.
Read over and “sip” on the following thoughts/questions throughout the week:
- Is there something you are facing today that you do not know what to do? Are you afraid you are going to make the wrong decision?
- Have you ever wished there was a Bible verse to address the specific decision you need to make?
- Perhaps, like Solomon, you feel unequipped and unprepared for the situation you face. When in doubt, don’t do anything! Wait on God to lead you. As you wait on God’s direction and wisdom, take a moment and pray over your decision/situation. Below are a few things that have been helpful to me that you can do as you seek God for His wisdom:
- Humble yourself before God.
- Acknowledge your dependence on Him.
- Ask Him for wisdom to make the right decision.
- Wait on God for further instruction.
- Believe that God will give you the wisdom you need rather than hiding His will from you.
- Read and meditate on Colossians 2:2-3.
God was so pleased Solomon asked for wisdom that He gave him power and riches. I believe God still delights in giving wisdom to His children. Trust Him to give you His wisdom and leave the outcome of your situation to Him. He is faithful and loves to give us more than we have the wisdom to ask for! I know there is no way we can know 100% what is best for us. Therefore, we must seek Jesus, the source of all wisdom, and wait on Him!
Further Reading:
1 Kings 3
