Clarity in Crisis: 3 Practical Ways to Find Wisdom During Difficult Days

March 2020 will be a historical month.

The stock market is on a wild roller coaster. The country has been shutdown by 80%. People have lost jobs. Parents have become homeschool teachers. Public places of worship, art, music, sport has been shutdown. And, we are in still in the middle of it.

It is easy to react and respond in frustration (I have), or in fear (I have seen it), or in anxiety (makes sense). Especially when you and I are trying to figure out HOW to manage and adjust to a new normal.

Have you experienced this?

And yet, because of Jesus, we do have a Living Hope in difficult days. A hope that isn’t ingenious or based on human achievement but based on relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

This is WHY James said, to you and I:

2-4 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

5-8 If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.

In short, you and I have access to WISDOM. Wisdom that goes beyond human achievement, experience, and/or education. Wisdom that is not from Google or the latest News update. Wisdom from God.

God FREELY gives wisdom. Wisdom that is divine. Wisdom in the moment. Wisdom that is personal and contextualized. Wisdom for today.

For me, there has been pockets in my life where God has given me divine wisdom. Wisdom in relationships. Wisdom during trials. Wisdom in my questions. Wisdom in my work. Wisdom with family. And, most importantly, wisdom for my life.

So, how do you and I find divine Wisdom:

Ask

Because of God’s great love, you and I can ASK God to SPEAK into our difficulties. To give you and I peace, joy, wisdom, and creativity. When you and I let God speak to us specifically, He speaks into our difficulties uniquely.

Act

James encourages you and I NOT to react but to respond. To react is to let our emotions, culture, and fears lead. To react leads to mistakes and mishaps. To respond, one the other hand, is to hear His voice. To respond in prayer and patiently asking Him to lead. To respond IS to follow His leading. And He leads us to the Word, to His Spirit. And, when He speaks, trust and act.

Accept

Last, accept the facts. Accept trials and difficulties. That is what James is saying…

Accept the reality that you and I are facing difficult times. Accept the fact trials come at us. And, according to James, difficulties aren’t necessary bad. In fact, difficult times produces faith, perseverance, and character IF we are able to ask, act, and accept trials.

How do you find wisdom in these days? Feel free to add to the conversation.