Wisdom for the Taking...and the Giving

Does Eden Baptist Church really ‘need’ the older to pass on their wisdom to the younger?
Is there really such ‘wisdom’ to be had, to be shared, to be taught?
Do we assume such wisdom is really out there? And if so, is teaching it really necessary?

I spoke with one ‘older woman’ who described her year long wait for an extended, drawn-out housing situation to be resolved. Ups & Downs. Opened door, closed door. Still no closure. Still waiting. Yet, her words echoed the strong assurance in God’s hand working all things out in his good timing. “We’re just waiting on the Lord because He knows best”, she affirmed.

Later that day I talked with another ‘older’ woman of the ups and downs of trusting in God, living in faith, when life was hard. Really hard. She’s lived the ‘really hard’ part. She’s said goodbye to her lifelong partner and faces the challenges and heartaches that such a parting brings. “But God is faithful. He provides the strength, and we just keep pressing on. I know He’ll take care of us. He’s proven that.” Heartfelt words borne of tears, testing, and triumph.

In each of these conversations, I wrapped my arm around the woman and whispered, “And it is just such life experience and wisdom that so needs to be passed on to our younger women!”

Indeed, such a sovereign, theistically-optimistic outlook needs to be both modeled and taught.
It doesn’t come naturally nor automatically, not even with age or through great trial.
It comes through the grace of God, hewn out of the hard granite of our own ‘got it all figured out & I’m doing just fine’ mentality as the fire of hardship, pain and loss blaze away the dross.
One then finds resistance to God’s ways (and the ‘Plan B’ surprises) diminished and eventually absent. The goodness of God, the wisdom of His plans display so brightly His brilliant superiority that our feeble attempts to insist on things our way---well, it falls flat for the infantile thinking it is.
What’s left is gospel-adorning, God exalting acceptance and trust. And a peace that passes understanding.
This is the wisdom that needs to be passed down.
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God….”
His answer just might be found in Titus 2:3-5.