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If you've ever been on a hike, you know you need to watch out for dangerous plants like poison ivy. If you brush up against it, you will spend the next few days in absolute misery. Unfortunately, it's pretty easy to run into poison ivy because it looks just like a normal plant. But if you know what you're looking for, you can usually avoid it. It's a dark green color, and the leaves are always in sets of three. That's why hikers have a saying: "Leaves of three, let it be."

Wouldn't it be nice if every problem in life had some sort of simple rule to help you know if it will be a big deal or not? You get in a fight with a friend . . . Is it going to be a huge deal, or will it be over soon? You're feeling a little sick . . . Will it be gone tomorrow, or must you go to the doctor and get checked out?

Unfortunately, we don't always have an easy, straightforward way to know right away whether our problems are just small worries or bigger, more serious ones. But we do have God.

In today's Bible reading, James says we can always ask God for wisdom. Wisdom that comes from God can make all the difference when understanding our stress and worry. With God's help, we're able to not only avoid life's "poison ivy" but also know how to handle it when we find it.