The Answerer
Once upon a time there was a young-ish woman who thought that she had the answers to most situations. In fact, the answers were readily available at the tip of her fingers, if not her tongue.
Whenever people shared their worries and burdens with her, she could hardly wait for them to finish talking so that she could give them the answer that was obvious to her. In fact, once she thought of the answer, her eyes stopped focusing on theirs and she was only half aware of what they were saying until they were finished. She noticed that sometimes the people to whom she gave the answers seemed resistant to receiving them.
As she grew older, a strange thing began to happen. She discovered that there were layers of complexity in people's lives and in her own responses to them. Answers seemed less readily available as she encountered this messiness. Sometimes she was in need of answers too and the answers she once found easy to access for others seemed trite.
Fortunately, the woman, answer-less now; had a Friend who had better answers than she ever had. His answers were never quick, trite or simple, but they were profoundly loving, true and wise.
All she had to do to contact him, was to stop what she was doing, be still, tell him all about the situation and then quietly listen, with every part of her being.
His answers did not always come quickly, but she would always experience a peace that told her that he knew all about the situation, cared deeply about it and understood it from a perspective that was perfect.
Sometimes the answer that she thought she needed so desperately when she first contacted him, was delayed indefinitely. But strangely, it didn't seem to matter so much anymore.
All that mattered was her trust in her Friend's wisdom and love, and that her heart was always open and listening for the answer when it came...
James 1:5 (New International Version)
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
James 3:17 (New International Version)
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
Whenever people shared their worries and burdens with her, she could hardly wait for them to finish talking so that she could give them the answer that was obvious to her. In fact, once she thought of the answer, her eyes stopped focusing on theirs and she was only half aware of what they were saying until they were finished. She noticed that sometimes the people to whom she gave the answers seemed resistant to receiving them.
As she grew older, a strange thing began to happen. She discovered that there were layers of complexity in people's lives and in her own responses to them. Answers seemed less readily available as she encountered this messiness. Sometimes she was in need of answers too and the answers she once found easy to access for others seemed trite.
Fortunately, the woman, answer-less now; had a Friend who had better answers than she ever had. His answers were never quick, trite or simple, but they were profoundly loving, true and wise.
All she had to do to contact him, was to stop what she was doing, be still, tell him all about the situation and then quietly listen, with every part of her being.
His answers did not always come quickly, but she would always experience a peace that told her that he knew all about the situation, cared deeply about it and understood it from a perspective that was perfect.
Sometimes the answer that she thought she needed so desperately when she first contacted him, was delayed indefinitely. But strangely, it didn't seem to matter so much anymore.
All that mattered was her trust in her Friend's wisdom and love, and that her heart was always open and listening for the answer when it came...
James 1:5 (New International Version)
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
James 3:17 (New International Version)
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
Comments
This is not something to beat oneself up about (I find a lot of people do this, loathe their past self), but another great testimony to God's patient nurturing of us. Also...one of the privileges are growing older, being set free from the need to be the one with all the answers.
It's so great of you to share this.