When Not Knowing Up or Down or In and Out is OK!
There are times in this life when you are not going to know you way "up or down" or "in and out". These are times when the questions are more numerous than the answers; the problems greater than the solutions. You can get bogged down and become immobile; you can get frustrated and confused; or, you can do like Solomon did when he became King of Israel:
7 And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people whom thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered or counted for multitude. 9 Give thy servant therefore an understanding mind to govern thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to govern this thy great people?"1 Kings 3:7-9 (RSV)
Becoming King of Israel was no small feat David experienced crisis throughout his reign as King, and Solomon as his son had been witness to a great deal of it. Solomon knew that within his own ability, he lacked the comprehensive ability to govern this multitude of people. He confessed that it was if he was a little child who did not the way in, or out. Yet Solomon had learned one thing from his father David, to pray to His God, the God who was also the One who came through for his father over and over again. As he prayed, he prayed for the kind of heart that could comprehend "what to do", and "how to do it". He prayed for the wisdom to know the difference between "good and evil" – and the ability to really govern God’s people with justice and equity!
Solomon knew the task before him was daunting, but he also knew the power of the God he learned to pray to as a child was limitless in His power and might; full of compassion, mercy, and grace. He knew that there was nothing that God could not do, and with God on his side he knew that there was nothing he could not do as well. Solomon was alright with not having all the answers, for he had full confidence in the One, who did.
Maria