Most of us face circumstances every day when we do not know what the next step should be. Life is complex. Situations can be intertwined, and when we face so many "what ifs," it's easy to just shut down.

Knowing what to do when difficulty arises is wisdom.

Wisdom is usually associated with older people who have experienced many circumstances firsthand. But the most reliable source of wisdom is God and His Word--the Bible.

In James 1:5-6, James gives us this direction: "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. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt."

There it is, a sure promise. First, we must admit our lack. That is not easy, because it is humiliating to say that we do not have all the answers and that we need somebody or something. We must be willing to say, "I do not know!"

The next step is to ask God and wait for His answer. We know from James 1:5 that God will not scold us for being ignorant or inadequate; He will generously give us an answer. When we go to God with questions and seek His wisdom, we should take along a means of writing down all He tells us. The answer will be what we need.

King Solomon of ancient Israel has the reputation of being the wisest man who ever lived. How did Solomon acquire his vast store of wisdom?

Early in his reign, Solomon went to Gibeon to worship and honor the living God of heaven. After Solomon offered 1,000 burnt offerings on the altar, he went to sleep. God appeared to him in a dream and said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you" (1 Kings 3:5).

Solomon could have asked for a lot of things, but he responded to God with this statement: "Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. . . . So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong" (1 Kings 3:7-9).

Because God was pleased with Solomon's request, He granted him a wise and discerning heart, more so than anyone who had ever lived or ever will live (1 Kings 3:12).

Solomon had a lack. He knew it and humbly asked God for help. God generously overwhelmed him with wisdom. In James 1:5, God lets us know that He wants to give us wisdom as well, when we desire what He desires and humbly serve Him.

Solomon recorded many of his words of wisdom, under God's inspiration, in the Old Testament book of Proverbs. In addition to asking God for wisdom and receiving it from Him, we can saturate our minds with wisdom by reading the book of Proverbs. There are answers about money management, time management, people management, family management, seeking God, and every other conceivable situation.

So, what do we do, when we don't know what to do? Declare that we do not know, ask God for wisdom, and immerse ourselves in the Word of God. The answers will come.

The next step is having the courage to do what God tells us to do.