Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding; Proverbs 3:13
Definition of Understanding: (from Strong’s Concordance Hebrew 8394): “from H995; intelligence; by implication, an argument; by extension, caprice:—discretion, reason, skillfulness, understanding, wisdom.”
We all desire happiness, and it is one of the American values that everyone fights, strives, and pursues to gain. However, many times we try to achieve happiness, and it takes us a wrong direction.
The worldly happiness is short-lived, and it takes a lot of effort to maintain it. Sometimes, we have to make spiritual compromises to be happy. At other times, we find that worldly happiness has a big price tag associated with it, and it brings about consequences that eventually make us unhappy.
God has a different answer to happiness. The Lord tells His people that gaining wisdom and understanding allows them to be happy. In this devotional, I would like to unpack what understanding really looks like.
Understanding is having a sensitivity to the Lord and our surroundings. We may have a tendency to look at our surroundings wondering if we are welcome or accepted by those around us. However, understanding takes a different viewpoint.
As children of God, we belong to the Lord, and anywhere He sends us, that’s our assignment regardless of how people view us. Therefore, the question of belonging is answered by Him rather than those around us. Instead of feeling insecure about our presence, we go in with an attitude that we are here to serve and reach those that need God’s touch. It’s a form of hospitality and care for others around us.
We develop a skill to listen, to observe, and to understand where people are coming from and what they need. Some people will be difficult to handle, but part of the skill of understanding is to forgive them quickly, so it won’t block our understanding of what they need spiritually.
I had an interaction with someone recently that did not go well. I shared something about when I first came to the US, and she was quick to give her own opinion about it. It felt rude, brash, and insensitive. As I thought about that interaction, I realized that it could have been so different if she had just made an effort to ask a question or try to understand the circumstances. Making a blanket statement that did not fit the situation caused a shut down of our communication. I had to quickly forgive her, so I can remain open to ministering to her. It also was a reminder not to do the same to others.
Understanding is not about agreeing with others’ viewpoints, but it is about making the extra effort to discern where people are coming from. We need to slow down and be sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit allowing Him to lead and guide us on how to handle the situation.
