Lacking

Lacking.

If someone were creating a list of the top ten words to describe me, that is one I hope would not make the list. Yet, there are too many days, when this would be the exact word I would use to describe myself. Lacking… Not having what it takes. Not measuring up. In over my head.

What about you? Do you ever feel like you lack what it takes? Like no matter how hard you try you will never have the abilities you need?

Too often life takes us by surprise. We are in circumstances that we don’t know how to handle. We are in a conversation that we have no idea what to say. We need to make a financial decision. Or we just have to face that same person or situation again even though nothing has changed.

For those of us who understand all to well what lacking means, James has some powerful words. Listen to this, “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to us generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5 NASB)

The beautiful thing about God, unlike me, He is not lacking. In fact, not only does God never lack, but He is the source of everything, including wisdom. Listen to these words from Romans, “Oh, the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has become His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever.” (Romans 11:33-36)

Like a resource-rich country is able to supply not only for their own people’s needs but can export to supply other countries, God is resource rich. His wisdom is abundant, and it out of this rich supply that God offers wisdom to us. And because God is the source of wisdom, His supply will never run out. It is a part of who He is.

James is reminding us that all of this wisdom is available to us. I don’t know about you, but wisdom is something I definitely want and need! Remember, the person who is tapped into God’s wisdom has access to the full supply. God does not hold back. But since wisdom is not something we have on our own, it is something we need to ask for. In other words, God wants us to have a full supply, but we can only access that supply through asking Him.

Listen to how Paul describes a person who is full of wisdom, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.” (I Corinthians 2:12-13) When God’s wisdom is present in someone, their life will be transformed. Their thinking and their speech will change.

Here in 1 Corinthians Paul describes wisdom as a mystery, something hidden that is only available through God’s Spirit. Paul explains how just like you are the only one that truly knows what you are thinking and feeling, only God knows His thoughts and feelings. The only way for another person to know your thoughts would be to see or connect to your spirit, and the only way to know God’s thoughts is to connect to His Spirit.

The amazing thing is that while we will never have access to another person’s spirit in order to really know their thoughts, we have direct access to God’s Spirit, so we can know His thoughts. The things that are hidden are being made known through His spirit. And as we access this hidden wisdom of God, we have access to spiritual thoughts. And these spiritual thoughts shape our words and actions. So when we tap into God’s source of wisdom, it flows through us and into every part of our lives.

The next time you feel inadequate, instead of focusing on your lack, see it has an opportunity to invite God in. Confidently look to Him and believe He will give you exactly what you need.