What practical steps can we take to trust God's wisdom over our own? Setting the Scene—Wisdom on Display Job 39:17 says, “For God has deprived her of wisdom; He has not endowed her with understanding.” God is speaking of the ostrich—a bird able to outrun a horse yet oddly indifferent to her own eggs. By spotlighting an animal that acts in ways we find puzzling, God reminds Job (and us) that what looks foolish in creation still fulfills His perfect design. If even the ostrich’s limited instincts fit within God’s wise plan, we can trust His wisdom over our own. Step 1: Admit Our Limits • Recognize that, like the ostrich, we possess partial vision. • Isaiah 55:8-9 underscores the gap: “My thoughts are not your thoughts… My ways are higher.” • Simple daily practice: start the morning by confessing, “Father, You see more than I do; I’m ready to follow even when I don’t fully understand.” Step 2: Flood the Mind with Scripture • God’s wisdom is chiefly revealed in His Word. • Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” • Practical ideas: – Read a chapter of Proverbs each day; 31 days, 31 chapters. – Memorize one promise each week (e.g., James 1:5). – Post verses where decisions are made—desk, dashboard, phone wallpaper. Step 3: Lean, Don’t Analyze • Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” • When a choice arises, say out loud, “I will lean, not lean on.” Vocalizing truth counters silent self-reliance. • List pros/cons if needed, but submit the list to God before acting. Step 4: Ask for Wisdom—Expect an Answer • James 1:5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously… and it will be given.” • Keep a “requests and responses” journal. Record the date you ask and the clarity God provides; reviewing it builds future trust. Step 5: Obey the Next Clear Thing • God rarely shows step ten before we take step one. • John 14:21 links obedience and revelation: “He who loves Me will keep My commandments… and I will reveal Myself to him.” • Action point: identify one command already understood (forgive, serve, give) and do it today. Step 6: Walk with the Wise • Proverbs 13:20: “He who walks with the wise will become wise.” • Seek mentors who revere Scripture. • Invite them to speak candidly when your reasoning drifts from biblical anchors. Step 7: Remember Past Faithfulness • Psalm 77:11: “I will remember the works of the LORD.” • Rehearsing God’s track record re-calibrates our hearts to trust His future guidance. • Keep a “stone of remembrance” box—notes, photos, or small items marking answered prayers. Step 8: Celebrate God’s Superior Wisdom • 1 Corinthians 1:25: “The foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom.” • End each day by thanking God for at least one instance where His plan proved better than yours—no matter how small. Living It Out Today Trust grows through repetition. Each practical step—confessing limits, soaking in Scripture, immediate obedience—trains the heart to echo Job’s eventual response: “I know that You can do all things; no purpose of Yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2). As we keep taking these steps, we’ll find ourselves gladly resting in the wisdom that designs ostriches, directs history, and lovingly orders every detail of our lives. |
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