Navigating the Storms of LifeNäide

Wisdom

Yesterday we read that truth helps us get through the storms of life. Today, we’ll explore our second navigational tool: wisdom. James tells us if we need wisdom, we just have to ask our generous God, and He’ll give it to us – without getting annoyed! This guarantee of answered prayer gives us a way forward: God promises to generously supply us with wisdom to navigate the storm. Maybe not the whole storm, today, but for sure, the next step. The next right thing. And then the next. Simply doing the next right thing – even if it’s just brushing your teeth or replying to a text – is a remarkably wise, practical way of defeating the fear that leads to self-preservation.

In December 2007, Peter van Kets and Bill Godfrey won the international Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race, rowing 5,438 km in 50 days and breaking the record. They attributed their victory to, firstly, committing to constantly meeting each other’s needs, not their own. In tough times, looking out for others lifts your head and gives you a better perspective on your situation.

Secondly, one of them was always rowing. There’s wisdom in persevering, even when – especially when – it feels like you’re making no progress. Small investments of time, effort, and tenacity, over time, add up, and eventually reach a critical mass that propels us through life’s storms. Simply keeping on keeping on can be the wisest possible way forward.

Thirdly, Peter and Bill even kept rowing when the storms raged, using the rainwater to wash their hair. This might seem unconventional – even odd – but stay mindful that God’s wisdom doesn’t always make sense to us because we don’t know what He knows; we can’t see what He sees.

Let’s switch metaphors – from storms to droughts. Maybe it feels as if you’re sowing seeds in a time of famine – which doesn’t feel wise at all, but terrifyingly foolish. Isaac, despite famine, being a foreigner, and disputes with the locals over water rights, planted crops and dug wells. Miraculously, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted and ended up calling one of his wells Rehoboth (meaning open space), saying, ‘At last the Lord has created enough space for us to prosper in this land.’ When there’s been no rain, and the ground is rock hard, it doesn’t make sense to sow your seeds. If these are the only seeds you’ve got left, shouldn’t you rather eat them, and try to survive? You’re taking a massive risk by planting them, with no rain expected and access to water proving difficult. But when the rains do come, you’ll be so very glad you had some seed in the ground.

If you ask God for wisdom, He’ll answer by laying on your heart a strong compulsion you can’t ignore. He’ll give you clear commonsense, a fresh idea, or something completely leftfield you’ve never considered. He’ll send wise counsellors and helpers. If you’re utterly overwhelmed by the wave crashing over your life right now, lean into God’s truth and trust Him for the wisdom you need to take just the next step.