My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2:1-6)
Did you notice how often the word “understanding” was used in those six verses? Four times! Most of the time we (at least I do) want to understand more of what’s going on in our lives and what we’re being taught – anywhere from understanding multiplication in third grade to wanting to understand how the stock market works.
On a deeper, more personal level though, we desire to understand WHY. Why did God allow this to happen to me? Why does my child/spouse/friend have to suffer this way? Why do I have to wait this long? Why can’t I hear God’s whisper? Why does this make no sense? Why did You die for me because I know I don’t deserve it?
In verse 6, it says, “For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
God says to us… “I understand. I know.”
That gives me peace. Reading these verses encourages me to think that when I ask God questions that I want to know the answers to, He’ll say, “Beth, I know how you feel. I really understand.” Remembering that helps me to not feel alone. Even though He might not give me the answer I want to hear (or even not want to hear), knowing and understanding that HE UNDERSTANDS HOW I FEEL and what I’m going through softens my misunderstanding. And He does the same for you. He felt all those feelings and emotions we have as He hung on the cross that His hands and feet were nailed onto.
God, thank You for You unfailing love for us. Thank You for pointing out to us in today’s reading what You want us to better understand and know about You. Please help us to remember that when we don’t understand or know things we want to, even if we don’t receive the answer from You immediately, we’ll still know and trust that You know how we feel and understand us. You’re able to because of Your deep love and compassion for us. In Jesus’ Name!
So, I’d like to hear back from you about what today’s verses have meant to you. Is there a time you remember or are currently experiencing where you’re struggling with understanding WHY things are happening the way they are? Or do you recall a time when you did feel and understand why things happened the way they did?