Refer to STEP 11: I made a commitment to nurture my relationship with the Lord, asking Him to reveal His will to me and to provide me with the power to carry it out.
Wisdom—true wisdom, which comes from God, has a high price tag attached to it. If it didn’t, there would be more of it. The process for gaining this precious commodity is arduous and, for the most part, very time-consuming and difficult. Because we are a nation of people who demand instant gratification, there are fewer wise people in America than you would expect.
There’s no way for fruit to mature before its season. It’s the same with wisdom. It takes time, but not all older people possess it. You have to grow old but, in America, you don’t have to grow up. Multiplied millions never do. They’re just old.
It also takes difficult experiences, which force a person to trust the Lord, and God has no problem letting any of His children go through a world of pain, hardship, and despair to get to the other side. In fact, it’s standard operating procedure for Him. He does it all the time, and it can be difficult to endure. In the short run, He may seem cruel and unfeeling but, when seen from His perspective, which is eternal, it’s absolutely necessary. It builds character, or at least it can. If He required hardship from His only begotten Son, why would He require anything less of you and me?
The answer is: He wouldn’t. So when adversity comes, and it will, know that God is using every aspect of it for your benefit, for your refinement, and for your good. Without it, you’ll never become the valuable person the Father wants you to be—never.
If you’re in the midst of difficulty, stop whining about your plight and allow God to refine you all He wants. When it’s over, you’ll be a stronger man or woman than you ever dreamed possible—rich in Christ-like qualities like love, joy, and kindness. But above all, you will be wise.
