Tag: #wisdom

Reframing the Trials: A Powerful Perspective on God’s Preparation

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

We pray to God for wisdom, and it’s a genuine request, so that we can stay in step with the Holy Spirit. However, do we realize it doesn’t happen overnight and isn’t delivered in a shiny box? There are some things to consider, such as whether it is acquired through trials and challenges.

We often wonder why we face challenging times, but we rarely think about what we’re learning from them. Maybe it’s an answer to our prayers. It just doesn’t look like what we expected, so we question God.

Does any of this sound familiar? Challenges are never easy while we’re going through them. We don’t literally ask for God to give us trials, but that’s precisely how we learn and grow. It builds character. Our daily choices often reflect the wisdom we hope to have someday, even if we aren’t aware of it.

It makes you think:

  • What daily choices am I making today that my future, wiser self would appreciate?
  • What does the wisdom I aspire to have look like in action right now?

It’s a beautiful way to frame personal growth—that aspiration is quietly guiding our daily efforts.

Without testing, there is no growth. Challenges strengthen us and show where we stand in our faith journey. Peter mentions being grieved by many trials: “So that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes through it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7, Emphasis added). In essence, those who believe are tested like precious metal, so that our faith is purified and proven to be genuine.

We often focus on the painful situation—the what we’re experiencing—instead of the valuable lesson—the why or what it is creating in us. Difficult times can be opportunities to build qualities like:

  • Resilience
  • Patience
  • Empathy
  • Deeper Faith

If a prayer is for strength, maturity, or a deeper connection, the answer may not be easy, but it is a challenge that requires developing those qualities. It involves shifting focus from circumstantial comfort to character growth.

Indeed, God’s ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not ours (Is. 55:8, ESV), something we must remember to help it make sense. It’s a call to trust the process and the ultimate purpose, even when the immediate experience is confusing or painful. The “tough time” is the necessary ground for a new type of growth.

Paul says we are all being transformed into the image of God from one degree of glory to another (2 Cor. 3:10). This is the process of sanctification that happens over time, not an instant change. This includes, but is not limited to, our moral character, true knowledge, and many God-given abilities (ESV Study Bible Notes).

The New City Bible plan, where I am currently studying the book of James, titled “Wisdom for Practical Life,” emphasizes that godly wisdom is gained through years of learning God’s Word, allowing God to correct us through trials, and being humble. This includes discipleship, training, and being corrected by others, as well as admitting our pride, selfishness, and sin by putting them to death and following Christ faithfully. This relates to my previous blog, ‘Repentance and Rest: Key Elements to Peace.’ This is how we grow in godly wisdom, and how character is formed – in the simple actions and decisions of daily life.

Christ is formed in us, and wisdom is revealed in how we live (1 Cor. 1:30). God takes up residence in our hearts. Our actions, choices, and treatment of others reflect the guest residing in our hearts. It moves faith from a set of external rules to an internal drive for goodness. In turn, this helps us develop strength and resilience to face the challenges that come our way.

God did not leave us alone to handle them; instead, He helps us through them and encourages us to persevere and not give up. I hope this allows you to reflect on the trials and challenges you face in the future with a new, powerful perspective. Maybe whatever you’re going through is preparing you for God’s plan in your life.

The core reflection is to see the trial not as a roadblock, but as a training ground.

  • Instead of asking, “Why is this happening to me?” we can ask, “What is this preparing me for?”
  • Instead of feeling abandoned, we are reminded that we are being actively equipped.

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Gal. 6:9, emphasis added).

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:2, emphasis added).

The Intentional Pursuit

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV, emphasis added).

What does it mean to acknowledge God in all our ways? The New Living Translation reads, “Seek his will in all you do.” It’s an intentional pursuit, not something that happens overnight.  

The word used in the old text is yada, which means to know relationally or to be aware, knowing what to do with respect to God (Key Word Study Bible, 1732). In other words, to know God’s will in our lives, we must know him relationally.

This also relates to a time when David gave his son, Solomon, some great advice – to seek God with his whole heart and a willing mind (1 Chronicles 28:9, ESV). He went on to finish the verse by telling Solomon that “The Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought.” 1 Samuel 16:7 also speaks of this concept when the Lord tells Samuel that He and man see differently: “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” In short, a person’s actions flow from the heart, where our inward moral and spiritual life stems, which is why it is vital to seek God with our whole heart.

Solomon faithfully built the temple but did not serve God wholeheartedly during his reign (1 Kings 11:4). This reminds me a Psalmist’s plea for a cleansed heart after turning away from God: “Create in me a clean heart, Oh God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Ps. 51:10). This heartfelt prayer reflects genuine repentance. Such a heart longs for a renewed awareness of God’s presence, aiming to restore the joy and gladness that come from being in God’s presence, as noted in the ESV Study notes.

Thankfully, through Christ, we are faultless before the throne of grace (Jude 1:24). Still, that doesn’t mean we don’t fall short and need repentance that brings us closer to God so we can experience that joy and peace and therefore, know Him more intimately, which in turn, helps us understand His will for us more clearly.

All aspects come together—God’s love for us and His wish to be in a relationship with us— help us in trusting Him with our next move, even when we don’t know where it will lead.

The foundation for making God-honoring decisions in everyday life is a relationship with our Creator, built on reverence and awe for God Himself. This is reflected in the verse: “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7 NLT, emphasis added). In this context, ‘fear’ signifies respect and awe. It also recognizes that all knowledge and wisdom stem from complete dependence on God, fostering humility and discouraging pride. It is more than just an attitude – it represents a way of life that acknowledges God’s power and authority, as well as our accountability to Him (Prov. 3:7; 15:33, NLT Study Notes).

Let’s transform these verses into a grateful prayer to God, affirming our trust in Him, our effort to align with His will in all things, and our thankfulness that He guides us.

Decision-making has always come as a challenge in my life. I think it stemmed from being a people-pleaser. I often made the wrong choices over the years, some with life-altering consequences. My fears of making the wrong choices have followed me into my later years and plagued me even in simple decisions. I’ve shifted from being a people-pleaser to a perfectionist, and I’m hard on myself when a decision doesn’t go well. Something I am working on, with God’s help.

However, I only recently realized that God is using my difficult circumstances to teach me better decision-making. Sometimes it seems like He’s pushing me, but maybe that’s just my stubbornness showing. To flip the script, I started thanking God for helping me. Even though it is painful and challenging, I trust Him with my whole heart and know it is a much-needed spiritual growth spurt that will help me in all aspects of life.

Not so ironically, I had been praying for God to help me make wise, godly decisions with confidence that align with God’s will. I ask for this not only in major decisions, but also in my daily life, whether personal or business-related. God answers prayers. The answers often come in strange ways – at least to us – because our understanding is clouded while we are going through it. But in the end, God makes it worth it and shapes our character through it.

The lesson is about decision-making. In every decision, I now pause, pray, and ask the Holy Spirit to guide me. Intentional prayer is crucial. There’s always time to pray, even if it’s just a quick ‘help me, Holy Spirit.’ Preparing beforehand is essential to facing challenges, and making daily life choices involves seeking God’s will and requesting wisdom early on, before a situation arises.

I’m still learning, but with daily practice, it becomes a natural response to any decision.

H.E.A.R.T.

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to be part of a leadership group at my church, where we spent a year learning more about God, ourselves, and the church. One of the assignments was to read the book The Heart of Leadership: Becoming a Leader People Want to Follow by Mark Miller. His acronym for the word heart stuck with me, and until recently, it was posted on the side of my refrigerator for me to see every morning. I still pray for God to help me with these traits to be a better leader.

It goes like this: Hunger for Wisdom, Expect the Best, Accept Responsibility, Respond with Courage, and Think of Others First.

Miller speaks of these as character traits – to be regarded higher than any skills we may have or acquire. It is an issue of the heart, and the only remedy is accepting Christ so the Holy Spirit can shape our character.

Paul writes that suffering produces endurance, which builds character that leads to hope through Christ (Rom. 5:3-5). Our character is the fruit of the spirit everyone should want to have – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). One of my favorite verses that follows this that I pray every morning is that God would help me “Keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25, Emphasis added) so that I can please Him and align with His will.

The book is described as a road map for anyone wanting to make a difference and be a leader others want to follow. There are many verses in the Bible about wisdom, but one that stands out for me is when Solomon could have asked for anything, and he chose to ask God for wisdom so he could lead his people well. God gave him wisdom and understanding beyond measure (I Kings 4:29, English Standard Version). He hungered for wisdom – not for himself – but to glorify God in leading the people. He later had much of his kingdom removed by God because of his foolish decisions. Still, he is the one others are measured by when it comes to his wisdom. Jesus surpassed his wisdom and is more significant than Solomon (Matt. 12:42).

James writes that if anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask God (James 1:5). Wisdom is described as better than jewels, and nothing else compares (Prov. 8:11). In Eccl. 10:10, the author writes that wisdom helps one succeed.

To expect the best is to believe and trust in God, who is the best and wants the best for us.

Accepting responsibility is not always about admitting we are wrong and owning up to our mistakes, although it can be that. Still, there is far more here to be considered. It is also about stepping up to the role God has proposed for our lives.

This will require us to respond with courage. Many times, I have tightened my grip and reminded myself of God’s promise in the book of Isaiah – “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Is. 41:10, Emphasis added) when I needed the courage to respond to God’s prompting.

Last but certainly not least, we must understand it is not about us but serving and loving others – thinking of others first is just that, putting ourselves in their shoes and trying to treat them as we would want to be treated (Matt. 7:12); To love God and others (Matt. 22:37-39). Jesus says we are not to exalt ourselves but become servants to others as He modeled for us (Mark 10:43-45). Jesus was the ultimate servant leader that we can strive to be like. Servant leadership empowers others for success – instead of pushing others down as we climb the ladder to the top.

It requires a changed heart that reflects the character traits of Jesus as we put on the new self, including kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, and are being renewed every day to the image of our Creator (Col. 3:8-17).

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 3:17, Emphasis added).

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps. 73:26. Emphasis added).

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew the right spirit within me” (Ps. 51:10, Emphasis added).