Seek Wisdom

The LORD grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

“Some of the kids in middle school are ‘dating.’ They usually break up after a week. It causes so much drama. Tara, my friend from choir, is telling me to date William, and I keep telling her that we are just friends. It’s hard. I don’t want to date in middle school, but she keeps teasing us. I’m not sure what to say to get her to stop.” Eliza felt better as she wrote out her feelings in the journal she shared with her mom, knowing that her mom would read her words and think about her response before writing back.

Eliza and her mom started sharing a journal about six months ago. It’s just a yellow school notebook, but they decorated it with stickers and markers. Now, they write all sorts of things in it: silly drawings, lists of their favorite foods, favorite memories, and even hard things, like Eliza telling her mom that she was being teased for not dating. They agreed that it would work to write about these things instead of talking about them face-to-face if Eliza wanted, as long as they both promised to read each other’s words and pray before responding.

One of the most important things to do as you are growing up is to seek wisdom. Life can be confusing, and it’s natural to have questions about building friendships, navigating school, and so many other topics. Often, our friends won’t be able to give good advice about these topics because they are trying to figure it out too! But the Bible is full of wisdom that applies to friendships, school, and life in general.

A good place to start is with Jesus’ teaching in the Gospels. The adults who love you can help you understand how the things Jesus says apply in the situations you are facing. Maybe you’d like to have a shared journal, like Eliza and her mom did, where you can write down the embarrassing or hard stuff. Jesus puts loving adults in our lives because he knows how hard these years can be and that we all need help as we become young adults who love him and love others. Wisdom comes from God, and he promises to give it to anyone who prays for it.

Things to Think About

• How do you currently seek wisdom when life is hard or confusing? A journal? A coffee date with an adult who loves you? Talking in the car?
• In what areas of your life do you currently need to seek wisdom? Friendships, boys, schoolwork, or other topics?

DAILY ACT OF FRIENDSHIP

Ask an adult who loves you to discuss how you are going to seek wisdom about hard friendship questions or embarrassing things. Make a plan with them so you both know what to expect.