Ask Before You React

Read: James 1:5“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men

liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

”

James assumes something profound: Trials will reveal that you do not naturally know how to

respond well. And that is not failure. It is opportunity. Wisdom is not knowledge. It is divine

perspective applied in real time. You can know Scripture and still react poorly. You can love God

and still mishandle pressure. Wisdom is what stabilizes your reaction.

Notice the character of God here: He gives liberally. He does not upbraid — meaning He does

not shame you for asking. Sometimes we hesitate to pray for wisdom because we think,

“I

should be more mature by now.

” But maturity isn’t pretending you know. It’s knowing where to

go when you don’t.

And here is where most instability begins:

We react before we ask.

We speak before we seek.

We decide before we discern.

We assume before we pray.

James is teaching a rhythm:

Pressure → Pause → Pray → Proceed.

That pause is maturity.

And wisdom in the pause often prevents regret in the aftermath.

Reflection

What recent reaction would have looked different if I had paused to ask for wisdom?

Where do I tend to act before I pray?

Prayer

Lord, interrupt my impulses. Train me to seek wisdom before I respond.