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.
But when you ask,
you must believe and not doubt,
because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea,
blown and tossed by the wind.
That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
Such a person is double-mindedm and unstable in all they do.
who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
But when you ask,
you must believe and not doubt,
because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea,
blown and tossed by the wind.
That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
Such a person is double-mindedm and unstable in all they do.
Last time I pondered where we go when we need wisdom. This is a moment by moment decision to go to God and not to try to figure out everything on our own. So often I will ask God, and then start a process in my mind, contemplating every possibility. It's like having a conversation with someone, and right when they are talking, start thinking out loud about grocery lists, and the to do list. It is rude at best, insulting, unkind at worse.
"Believe and not doubt" is the section that I am considering now. Not doubting seems to be impossible. But what is the Scripture really saying? I think it is directed at our motivation in asking. Are we asking God to approve our ideas? Do we really want to place it in His hands and wait for His answer, or do we think that we can weigh what He says against what we think and then make our decision based on what sounds the best to us?
We have all known people who apparently want our advice, but they have no intention of actually using our fabulous insights. It is quite maddening, and a waste of time. Imagine how God feels when we do the same thing to Him. From verse 7, I think it is obvious: "that person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord." So He isn't going to advise us only to have us turn around and ignore His direction.
Verse 6c,d: "Because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." What it doesn't say is one who doubts is on a wave in the sea, it states that one who doubts is like the wave itself, blown and tossed. Completely out of control, not stable in any way, uncontainable, and impossible to direct. Verse 8 says it perfectly: "Such a person is double-minded, and unstable in all they do." That is a blanket statement of how God sees our doubt. Double minded must equate to a very confused state. It almost reminds me of the old devil on one shoulder and and angel on the other. Both are shouting into our ears, and we sway with whatever each says until we get weary. Back and forth, back and forth, like a wave. The word stability in the dictionary does not have a picture of a wave next to it.
Dictionary.com gives this definition of stability:
1. The state or quality of being stable.
2. Firmness in position.
3. Continuance without change; permanence.
4. In Chemistry. resistance or the degree of resistance to chemical change or disintegration.
5. Resistance to change, especially sudden change or deterioration:
The stability of the economy encourages investment.
6. Steadfastness; constancy, as of character or purpose:
The job calls for a great deal of emotional stability.
If you have been a Christ Follower for any length of time, the above definition is what you would like your faith to reflect: stable, firmness in position, resistance to change or deterioration, steadfast, constancy, character of purpose. That is what I want my walk with Jesus to be. Jesus was asked what a person could do to get in on the works of God. His reply is recorded in John 6:29: "Jesus answered, 'The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.'”As I believe and not doubt, I am doing things His way.
We do have many occasions when we doubt. How are we supposed to handle doubt when it enters our minds? That is where the believe part comes in. We are to know that God is good and He wants to help us arrive at the right decision. He wants us to trust His ways and His timing. One of the reasons that it is good to read scripture is because we put the Truth of Who He is in our minds over and over again. We can rely on His truth and His direction.
We can rest and not struggle as we wait for wisdom from God. How great is that? Today, I hope that you believe God is good and wants only good for you, and He especially wants to give you wisdom!
"Believe and not doubt" is the section that I am considering now. Not doubting seems to be impossible. But what is the Scripture really saying? I think it is directed at our motivation in asking. Are we asking God to approve our ideas? Do we really want to place it in His hands and wait for His answer, or do we think that we can weigh what He says against what we think and then make our decision based on what sounds the best to us?
We have all known people who apparently want our advice, but they have no intention of actually using our fabulous insights. It is quite maddening, and a waste of time. Imagine how God feels when we do the same thing to Him. From verse 7, I think it is obvious: "that person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord." So He isn't going to advise us only to have us turn around and ignore His direction.
Verse 6c,d: "Because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." What it doesn't say is one who doubts is on a wave in the sea, it states that one who doubts is like the wave itself, blown and tossed. Completely out of control, not stable in any way, uncontainable, and impossible to direct. Verse 8 says it perfectly: "Such a person is double-minded, and unstable in all they do." That is a blanket statement of how God sees our doubt. Double minded must equate to a very confused state. It almost reminds me of the old devil on one shoulder and and angel on the other. Both are shouting into our ears, and we sway with whatever each says until we get weary. Back and forth, back and forth, like a wave. The word stability in the dictionary does not have a picture of a wave next to it.
Dictionary.com gives this definition of stability:
1. The state or quality of being stable.
2. Firmness in position.
3. Continuance without change; permanence.
4. In Chemistry. resistance or the degree of resistance to chemical change or disintegration.
5. Resistance to change, especially sudden change or deterioration:
The stability of the economy encourages investment.
6. Steadfastness; constancy, as of character or purpose:
The job calls for a great deal of emotional stability.
If you have been a Christ Follower for any length of time, the above definition is what you would like your faith to reflect: stable, firmness in position, resistance to change or deterioration, steadfast, constancy, character of purpose. That is what I want my walk with Jesus to be. Jesus was asked what a person could do to get in on the works of God. His reply is recorded in John 6:29: "Jesus answered, 'The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.'”As I believe and not doubt, I am doing things His way.
We do have many occasions when we doubt. How are we supposed to handle doubt when it enters our minds? That is where the believe part comes in. We are to know that God is good and He wants to help us arrive at the right decision. He wants us to trust His ways and His timing. One of the reasons that it is good to read scripture is because we put the Truth of Who He is in our minds over and over again. We can rely on His truth and His direction.
We can rest and not struggle as we wait for wisdom from God. How great is that? Today, I hope that you believe God is good and wants only good for you, and He especially wants to give you wisdom!
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