The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. – Proverbs: 1:7

We had a saying back at Teen Challenge, the residential rehab and recovery program my wife and I served at for several years, that “Sometimes you just need to step back and allow the Hammer of God to break down the man (or woman) before we can step back in to take part in Gods restoration.”

Unless a man or woman realizes the immensity of God, the immensity of their sins and then begins to have a healthy understanding of what it means to fear God, then they will never grow. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

And this is where we find Jacob in Genesis chapter 29. When faced with a situation where he realized God was correcting Him for actions he had made in the past, he realized he had two choices. To handle the manner in the way he would have done prior to having had an encounter with God, or he could submit to God knowing that God had his best interest in mind.

One of the most challenging aspects of ministry is watching people go down a path that leads to pain, heartache and destruction rather than heed the corrective circumstances put in place by God himself.

We all have two choices in every situation. Some simply describe this as doing the right thing or doing the wrong thing. But there is more to it than that. After all, who determines what is right and what is wrong? That depends on who you ask.

God wants to give you the answers. He wants to see you grow in character and in holiness. But you can’t do it your way. Don’t put your trust in yourself, put your trust in the one who saves and redeems. In all situations!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;” – Proverbs 3:5