Learning to Slow Down – Discernment

“The rich man is wise in his own eyes, but the poor who has understanding sees through him.” — Proverbs 28:11 (ESV)

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” — James 1:5 (NIV)

Devotional:

This morning, I was reading Proverbs 28:11, and it made me pause. It says, “The rich man is wise in his own eyes, but the poor who has understanding sees through him.” It made me think—how many times have I been so sure I saw a situation clearly, only to realize later that I missed something important or saw the whole situation wrong. 

There have been  times I have made decisions in the moment, based on what I thought was right. I’ve spoken too soon, assumed too much, and trusted my own thoughts more than I should’ve. As I look back many times, I can see those were moments when I didn’t ask God or let the Holy Spirit lead me to wisdom—I just went with what felt right at the time.

And honestly, those choices didn’t lead to peace. Most of the time, they just brought confusion, regret, or hurt either for me or to someone else. Acting on impulse might feel right in the moment, but without God’s guidance, it rarely leads to anything good.  

But in James 1:5 it reminded me of something better. It says that when I lack wisdom (which, honestly, is more often than I’d like to admit) lol 🙂, all I have to do is ask God—and He’ll give it. This kind of generosity and kindness amazes me.

Discernment isn’t about being right—it’s about being willing to wait and listen. It’s about admitting, “Maybe I don’t know the whole story.” This isn’t a  weakness. This is  wisdom. And I’m learning that the Holy Spirit is always ready to guide me, if I’ll take the time to invite Him in.

These days, I’m trying to be slower to speak, slower to judge, and quicker to pray. I want to see situations—and people—through God’s eyes, not just my own. Because He sees what I can’t, and He knows what’s really going on beneath the surface.