Wisdom from the Word

“For because He himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.”  Hebrews 2:18 

 

It seems that I have been talking to women lately who have some real problems in life.  The situations they speak of sometimes require quick thinking and reactions.  Often what I hear about is their regret at not having responded well to a situation.  They’re wondering what they should have done because there was no time to think or pray at the time.  Many are Christians who know that I have spent several years teaching the Bible so they want to know what their biblical response shouldhave been.  

Often times I leave these conversations realizing what a blessed life I’ve been given.  I have difficulty relating to the experiences of some people because they are so out of my experience — physical abuse, sexual abuse, divorce, financial crisis, things that God has spared me from up to now.  And I wonder,  “Am I (or anyone else, really) the one to go to?”   

Many of these are women who have cried out to God and have searched His Word, but they still are not sure of what they could have done differently – or should do differently in the future.  They are seeking the counsel of a believer to confirm what they have found, but way too many want to somehow put the responsibility for their knowledge of God on someone else.  “My church didn’t teach me.”  “I don’t even go because I never get anything out of it.”  “My parents didn’t raise me in the church.”  They wonder why they can’t respond to life in a way that pleases God even though they’ve had a conversion experience.   

These are children of God but they don’t know what He expects of them when the going gets rough.  After the difficulty is over they ask what God’s Word says.  If ever there’s a time to already know the Bible it’s when trouble comes.  If His word is rooted and grounded in a person when a problem arises the Holy Spirit will bring that Word to mind in a heartbeat – no extended time to seek advice or pray will be needed.  He’ll remind them of God’s Word on whatever the issue is.   

I am not saying that the one who has studied God’s word will always be protected from harm.  Nor do I think that they’ll do the right thing in every situation but when temptations arise, when trouble comes, when our Christianity, our virginity, or our integrity are at risk, we’ll have a well of Wisdom to draw from if we have hidden God’s Word in our hearts. 

Keep asking for wise counsel from mature believers, that’s a biblical practice.  But also keep digging into God’s Word and get into a Bible Study so that when you most need it  the Counsel of the Almighty will be in you and His Holy Spirit will have something useful to bring to your mind.   

I’m happy to try to help a brother or sister in crisis.  I never mind being asked for the Biblical view but it is Jesus who is to be our ever-present help in times of trouble.  Before you or I face these situations that allow us no time to pray or think about our responses, we need to turn to the One who has complete understanding of the situation we’re in.  Hebrews 2:18 speaking of Jesus says, “For because He himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.”   

When we know Jesus well from studying His Word, we won’t have to think, “What would Jesus do?”  He’ll remind us.