You’re right, up to a point; God has given us some ability to examine our lives and discover what’s best for us. Jesus often urged His hearers to think carefully about His words: “Whoever who has ears to hear, let them hear” (Mark 4:9).

But when problems or decisions come, we need to turn to God and seek His guidance instead of relying only on ourselves. Why is this? One reason is because we see only part of the picture, while God sees it all. In other words, we may think we understand a problem and know all the possible solutions, but do we really? No, of course not. We can’t possibly see all the alternatives; we may not even understand our motives. But God sees the whole situation, and He knows what is best for us. The Bible says, “As for God, his way is perfect” (Psalm 18:30).

The other reason we need to seek God’s wisdom when we face problems or decisions is because He actually wants to show us what’s right. God doesn’t want us to muddle around in the dark, vainly seeking what we think is best. He loves us and wants to help us.

Don’t let your pride, or anything else, keep you from seeking God’s help. Instead, turn to Christ and humbly admit your need for His grace and wisdom. The Bible says, “You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry” (Psalm 10:17).

You can have peace with God today.