If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:5)

Hindsight is 20/20. I have found that principle to be true in my life. I have a bad habit of going over the what-ifs—especially in tough situations—over and over again in my head. It’s easy to realize everything you could have done better. The problem is that these realizations often come too late.

A lack of wisdom prevents us from becoming mature and complete. God expects and wants us to be wise, not just by earthly standards, but by heavenly standards. God, in his infinite wisdom, knows we need wisdom to persevere. If we are to operate in God’s maturity and standards, we must have his wisdom. We simply cannot get by without it or we may find ourselves stumbling from situation to situation, merely scraping by. With his wisdom, we will overcome, doing well to please God with our actions, words, and thoughts.

Wisdom is a gift and we need only to ask for it. James instructed that we must ask without any doubt. God wants to give you wisdom, but you must first believe in that fact. God cannot and will not give to one who doubts. Then you must ask, and as the Scriptures say in Matthew 21:22, you will receive. Simply put, believe you need wisdom, ask for wisdom, and God will grant you wisdom.

Believe God can give you wisdom—and then ask for it.

Ethan Zent is from Fort Wayne, Indiana. He’s studying worship leading and pursuing Wesleyan ordination at Kingswood University.

© 2019 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.