Suffering and Trials Are Not the Time to Lean on Your Own Understanding
Key Verse to Read and Treasure
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your path–Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
For Insight
Have you had times in life where you just knew it wasn’t safe to rely on your own understanding of things? When your own emotions or thoughts couldn’t be trusted to lead you in a good direction? Maybe you were going through an exceptionally difficult time, in the middle of a struggle of some sort, experiencing grief over a difficult loss? Whatever it was you knew you needed to bring another voice or someone with an unbiased view or opinion in?
If so, you are not the only one. Nearly all of us have had those times. I can think of many times in life where I knew it was wise to not rely on my own thoughts or come up with my own solutions. Times I knew I was not able to see the “bigger picture” or discern what God might be doing in and through that trial or hardship.
Have you heard or read these words before? “Two are better than one, for if either of them falls, one can help the other up (Ecc. 4:9-10), and “Where there are no guidance people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory (Prov. 11:14). This is what Solomon wrote that we might have guidance and gain understanding of our human limitations.
God supplies our wisdom so we don’t have to go through any season—including times of affliction, suffering, hardships, or trials—relying solely on our own wisdom, but can have God’s wisdom to turn to. God already knows we will have difficulties in life so he has supplied amazing counsel and spiritual guidance we can rely upon and don’t have to lean on our own understanding. According to Solomon the darker the times the best and wisest thing we can do is turn to the wisdom of God and his counsel for a straight way out and through our difficulty.
Life Lesson
Solomon’s advice about leaning not on our own understanding doesn’t just apply to spiritual matters but all of life. It’s good when we can recognize we are not able to be our own best council and judgement. When we can know that to lean on our own understanding is not good. Knowing God supplies wise counsel and guidance for us.
Prayer
God, let me know when I should not be relying on my own understanding so that I can trust in you with all my heart and experience a good outcome in line with your plans and will. Amen
Devotionally Yours 