This morning started out a little rough. I woke up thinking about all the things I have to do today. When my youngest, Anna, got up, she was complaining about allergies. We sifted through the medicine supplies and found her something to take for them. Before she and Rebekah left for early morning cross country practice, I made tentative plans to pick her up a bit early from school to take her to the doctor for a renewal of the only allergy medicine we’ve found that provides long-term relief. Shawn came down and told me my tire looked low, and I needed to check it before I went anywhere. I was trying to work on Bible study homework for a class I just started, and he sat down and lovingly pointed out a small character flaw (he really did do it with gentleness and care, but I wasn’t too happy about it).
My study was on James 1:5-8. The passage says if we lack wisdom, we should ask God who will give it to us generously and without finding fault. But it also warns that we should ask without doubting and without being double-minded, or we won’t get anything at all. I was struggling with the second part because all too often, my faith seems so small.
Then the phone rang, and it was Anna in a bit of a panic. She had forgotten a key piece of clothing for the day and asked if I could drop it off before she finished running. Now I could have said no and let her deal with the consequences of forgetting, and there are times when I believe that would be appropriate. But she is brand new to cross country and early morning practices and, in my opinion, still needs extra encouragement.
I found the clothing. I also picked up the cellphone and the throat lozenges she forgot. Because she often eats very little until after school, I grabbed an apple and a granola bar and stuck in money for lunch. I put all the items into a plastic Kroger bag and left them in the prearranged spot (Rebekah’s pickup in the school parking lot). I spied the girls running around the track with their teammates and smiled at the sight.
Then I went back home to finish my study. The Message translation of James 1:5-6 was reminding me, “If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought.”
In her James study guide, Beth Moore says she’s “practiced coupling my plea for wisdom with my advance gratitude for receiving it.” That’s one aspect of asking in faith, knowing that God has our best in mind and will do it. I know He wants me to become more like Him in joyful obedience and loving others, so I can thank Him that He is working on me and allow Him to knock the hard edges off my heart.
As I started to pray, Anna texted me, “I have the best mommy ever!!!” I think she was enthusiastic because I went beyond just the item of clothing and gave her things she didn’t even ask for. God tapped me on the shoulder. He goes way beyond what we ask and gives us “immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine” (Eph. 3:20).
My job is to ask for wisdom, be thankful that God is at work, and get my own stubborn self out of the way as I follow Him.