#askjesus

i love moments like those and i love reading about other people's moments like those as well, thank you for sharing !!

What do you do when you don’t know what to do?

I can remember it like it was yesterday. It was summer 2009. Two little girls with pig tails on pink and white Barbie bikes rushing out of my garage, up the driveway and onto the sidewalk. One raced past me while the other trailed behind us. While I was trying to catch up with the one, I heard the other making grunting sounds “uhhhh, uhhhh” like she was having a hard time. As I turned around to see what was going on, three of the most memorable words came out of her mouth, “I can’t push”. The bike was stuck in a crack on the sidewalk and on her face was the look of defeat as she repeated the same words again, “I can’t push”. So, like a good father, I tell her to go backwards and then pedal forward as fast as she can. Guess what? She made it over the crack.

You know, life can feel the same way sometimes. I mean, we can find ourselves stuck in situations that we don’t know how to handle. Like dealing with inflation and rising gas prices but not having enough money to afford the increase. What about being unemployed for six months with no job leads. Or how about trying to make the best of a marriage that is no longer filled with joy. Some situations simply leave you saying “I can’t” figure it out.

Well, this week I found good news in James 1:5 which says,

“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”.

In this verse, James makes a hypothetical statement by saying, “If any of you lacks wisdom”. I like this because James never judges people by saying, “you don’t know what you are doing” or assumes anything about people by asking “do you know what you are doing”. No, he simply says should you find yourself stuck in a situation and you don’t have the insight necessary to handle it, here is what you do. This is good news because it promises that we can get an answer if we just ask God. It encourages us to admit that we need help and then assures us that once we do, we will receive it.

James 1:5 (KJV)

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

During His earthly ministry, Jesus was always available to His disciples to answer any questions and to meet their needs.

As the bread of life, Jesus provided for their physical needs. Turning five loaves and two fishes into a feast for more than five thousand people.

As the light of the world, Jesus would enlighten their minds and open their eyes. He taught them deep spiritual truths hidden from the learned through the ages.

Matthew 24:3 (KJV)

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

John 14:8 (KJV)

Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

Whenever they had questions and needs, the disciples had learned to go to Jesus and to ask Him.

Jesus gave His disciples broad and precious promises:

John 14: 13-14 (KJV)

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Paul describes the blessings reserved for us in Jesus thusly:

Romans 8:32 (KJV)

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

And also in 2 Corinthians 1:20 (KJV)

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

There are great and awesome treasures waiting to be discovered in Jesus.

He is our Peace.

He is our Portion.

He is our Salvation.

He is our Righteousness.

He is our Redeemer.

He is our Shepherd.

He is our High Priest.

He is our Counsellor.

He is our Intercessor.

He is our Prince.

He is the Word made flesh.

He is the Lamb of God, the perfect sacrifice.

He is our Healer.

Since we have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, God has put us in Jesus and given us His righteousness, i.e. the righteousness of Jesus. We have the spirit of adoption, we no longer fear the wrath of God, but as God’s children, we can boldly approach the throne of grace. We need to be mindful not to ask for things that our flesh craves to inflame our lusts, for this would not be what Jesus would want.