Think of the last time you faced a sudden or simply unexpected difficulty. Perhaps a tough decision had even tougher consequences. Perhaps a relationship imploded and you were left to pick up the pieces. Perhaps a loved one was called home to heaven and you felt more than a little lost without them. What was the dominant feeling in that moment for you? Was it chaos, the desire to run away, the belief that things couldn’t possibly get worse? Were you striving for peace? A bit of wisdom that assured that everything would be okay in the end? Happiness to be restored?

Lasting happiness and peace are two things we are all after, and they are tied closely to the wisdom God graciously gives to us. Peace and happiness are tells of how much wisdom we have acquired. It is the difference between trying to solve all our problems on our own and trusting that God is in control.

Consider Solomon’s words in Proverbs 8:10-36—

Receive my instruction, and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choice gold;
For wisdom is better than rubies,
And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.
“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And find out knowledge and discretion.
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverse mouth I hate.
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, I have strength.
By me kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
By me princes rule, and nobles,
All the judges of the earth.
I love those who love me,
And those who seek me diligently will find me.
Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring riches and righteousness.
My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,
And my revenue than choice silver.
I traverse the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth,
That I may fill their treasuries.
The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old.
I have been established from everlasting,
From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.
When there were no depths I was brought forth,
When there were no fountains abounding with water.
Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills, I was brought forth;
While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields,
Or the primal dust of the world.
When He prepared the heavens, I was there,
When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,
When He established the clouds above,
When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,
When He assigned to the sea its limit,
So that the waters would not transgress His command,
When He marked out the foundations of the earth,
Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman;
And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him,
Rejoicing in His inhabited world,
And my delight was with the sons of men.
“Now therefore, listen to me, my children,
For blessed are those who keep my ways.
Hear instruction and be wise,
And do not disdain it.
Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at the posts of my doors.
For whoever finds me finds life,
And obtains favor from the Lord;
But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul;
All those who hate me love death.”

Throughout this entire chapter of Proverbs, Solomon has given wisdom a voice, imploring his son to obey her voice, promising that she lends knowledge and understanding and handles the most difficult things in life with care and discernment.

We, too, can have wisdom such as this. Learn from the example Solomon left for his descendants, left for us. Come along on this journey through the chapter of Proverbs above and the prayer below, and you will gain the edge wisdom offers you, leading to a life of happiness and peace while living in anticipation of eternity.