Wisdom and Understanding

I am doing a Bible study on the book of James. Last night we were discussing the various scriptures that talk about wisdom and understanding. Beth Moore states that wisdom is the what while understanding is the why. That really made me stop and think.

We are clearly told in scripture that if we lack wisdom then we should ask for it. Boldly ask and it will be given to us in abundance. As parents, the wisdom of the basics is pretty clear. We know, for the most part, what is right. What is wrong. What can harm. What big things to say no to. At least when they are younger.


But as they get older and the circumstances get bigger the wisdom of parenting becomes a little less clear. The voices screaming about the wisdom of this world get louder. And our children are surrounded with those voices sometimes more often than our voice of wisdom. A lot of times they respond to our wisdom out of the influence of the world's wisdom. That is where the understanding comes in.


Each one of my girls has had a moment this week that they responded to me out of emotion. Each response was big enough to get my attention. Each one was in response to a "word of wisdom" that I had shared with them. I have been really thinking this morning about what prompted their emotional response and the Lord reminded me that my wisdom was not wrong but I was dismissing the understanding.


I have a perspective of parenting all females. So I have had a crash course in understanding over the years. Without understanding you will drown in their emotions. But understanding is something that has to be intentionally pursued. And this morning the Lord reminded me that I was not paying attention to the why because I was so focused on getting the point of the what across.


As I began to ask God for understanding as a parent, it became easier to pray for the girls. My understanding of the response led me to pray differently. More effectively. Maybe even more boldly.


I never cease to be humbled by how the Creator of the Universe can meet me in my own little world and impart wisdom and understanding directly into my circumstances. It is because He is relational. He knows me. He understands me. He loves me. That is the kind of mom I want to be. 

You don't really understand human nature unless 

you know why a child on a merry-go-round 

will wave at his parents every time around - 

and why his parents will always wave back. 

 ~William D. Tammeus