As Unsettled As A Wave Of The Sea
James 1:6 When we ask God for His wisdom, we must do so in complete faith
“But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.”
James 1:6 NLT
In this verse from the Gospel of James, the writer (who is believed to be James the Just, a half-brother of Jesus) has just exclaimed that if anyone seeks wisdom, they should ask God for it. We need God’s wisdom and guidance the most when we are in the middle of a difficult time, and He always (in the words of James) gives us wisdom “liberally and without reproach.”
What wisdom do we want from God in our times of trial? We want to know if our difficulties can be eliminated through faith and prayer, or if we’ll need to use our faith to persevere through them. It’s not enough to simply ask God to impart His wisdom to us; we must do so in complete faith, and trust in what He tells us.
The imagery used in this verse is both apt and beautiful in its description of doubt. Bible commentator David Guzik says this in his Enduring Word commentary:
Like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind: “The man who is not thoroughly persuaded that if he ask of God he shall receive, resembles a wave of the sea; he is in a state of continual agitation; driven by the wind, and tossed: now rising by hope, then sinking by despair.” (Clarke)1
ii. A wave of the sea is a fitting description of one who is hindered by unbelief and unnecessary doubts.
· A wave of the sea is without rest, and so is the doubter.
· A wave of the sea is unstable, and so is the doubter.
· A wave of the sea is driven by the winds, and so is the doubter.
· A wave of the sea is capable of great destruction, and so is the doubter.
Not only do we need to ask for God’s wisdom in our prayers, but for Him to eliminate doubt from our vocabulary.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Lord, I thank You that I can boldly ask You for Your wisdom and answers when I need help. Teach me to pray with complete faith in You and in obedience to Your will. I know that You may not always give me the result I want, but that Your response is always for my good and Your glory. I pray that I may never doubt Your power and mercy, and that I will always rely on Your wisdom. AMEN.
Clarke, Adam "Clarke's Commentary: The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments with a Commentary and Critical Notes" Volume 6 (Romans-Revelation) (New York: Eaton and Mains, 1832)