Get Wisdom: It’s a Worthy Pursuit for 2025

Posted on by Michele Morin

Since April 2024, a story has been unfolding very vividly in my home, in our family, and, therefore, in my life. I’ve held it close, not sharing it here, but the story ended on December 5th, and I’ve had some time to process its impact.

Back in April, a dear friend was diagnosed with advanced-stage cancer. She was 82 years old, lived alone, and had no near relatives. Furthermore, our kids call her “Aunt Jit,” both my husband and I have known her since we were teenagers, and she has been very dear to all the Morins. We knew this process was ours and that we would travel alongside Jeanette.

The past eight months have been a blur of scans, appointments, medications, ferocious bone pain followed by reprieves, hospice visits, growing weakness, and regular checking-in visits and phone calls. Jeanette was passionate about her work with Child Evangelism Fellowship here in Maine, and she was able to be active well into November.

After celebrating Thanksgiving with our family, she joined us here at home for the weekend because of a heavy, wet snowfall likely to take out her electricity and heat. She woke up on Saturday morning with the excruciating bone pain back again, and by Monday her speech was gone. Thursday morning, when I got up to administer her medications, she slipped quietly away. One minute she was there, and the next minute she was in the presence of her Lord.

I share all this detail as evidence that God frequently works in ways that are incomprehensible to me. We had made a good and sensible plan for Jeanette’s last days. She was going to die in her home with one of her close friends in attendance.

Nothing happened the way we had planned. I struggled with the dissonance and wasted at least a full day and night projecting into the future, catastrophizing about the logistics, and making myself miserable. I wish I had skipped that part of the process.

Finally, after living my way into acceptance, there was peace.

I lament my slow response and am praying for wisdom to make a quicker adjustment the next time the rug gets pulled out from under my feet (and I have no doubt that there will be a next time).

The Proverbs assure me that this is a worthwhile pursuit:

Wisdom is the principal thing; 

Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7 NKJV)

Other versions render this directive with more urgency:
“Sell everything and buy Wisdom!” (MSG)
“Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do.” (NLT)
“Wisdom is supreme—so get wisdom.” (HCSB)

I appreciate the New King James for its follow up: “In all your getting, get understanding.”

I do so much getting.
I get ready. I get up, get dressed, get behind, and get caught up again. I get meals, groceries, jokes, the mail, and I sometimes even get a bit of work done in the run of a day. But I’m not sure that I consciously spend much of my “getting” in the procurement of wisdom—the kind of wisdom that takes a long view of the unexpected and rests in God’s sovereign goodness—no matter what.

Once again, it looks as if my Word of the Year has chosen me, so stay tuned. I’ll be writing one post every month on the theme of Get Wisdom, and, as usual, I invite you to share your thoughts in the comments—either about the need for wisdom or your own Word of the Year for 2025.

Holding you in the light,

The Proverbs assure me that this is a worthy pursuit for 2025: “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7 NKJV) #oneword2025

Free Encouragement in Your Inbox!

On the third Thursday of every month, I send a newsletter with biblical encouragement straight to my subscribers’ email inboxes. Frequently, I share free resources, and the newsletter is where everything lands first.

CLICK HERE to read my most recent newsletter where you’ll be given the opportunity to subscribe. I’m committed to the truth that women can become confident followers of God and students of his Word, and I want to help you along that path.

Looking for Challenging Devotional Reading that Encourages You to Seek Intimacy with God Every Day?

YouVersion Plans

As you know, I’m committed to the truth that women can become confident followers of God and students of his Word, and it’s my goal to help you along that path. At Living Our Days, I provide biblical content and resources to encourage biblical literacy and faithful living, and now I’m sharing devotional content on the YouVersion app. Visit my profile page to get free access to the reading plans!

I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees. If you should decide to purchase any of the books or products I’ve shared, simply click on the book title, and you’ll be taken directly to the seller. If you decide to buy, I’ll receive a few pennies at no extra cost to you.

Unknown's avatar

Published by Michele Morin

Michele Morin is a Bible teacher, writer, reader, and gardener committed to the truth that women can become confident Christ-followers and students of God's Word. She has been married to an unreasonably patient husband for thirty-plus years, and together they have four married sons and a growing fleet of adorable grandchildren. Michele loves hot tea and well-crafted sentences, poems that stop her in her tracks, and days at the ocean with the whole family. She laments biblical illiteracy and advocates for the prudent use of “little minutes.” She blogs at Living Our Days, and you can connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

39 thoughts on “Get Wisdom: It’s a Worthy Pursuit for 2025”

  3. I am so sorry for the loss of your dear friend. May her memory be a blessing. Perhaps what may feel like wasting time is actually us gaining wisdom. Just as our muscles get stronger when the rest the day after a work out maybe our wisdom can be gained when we rest.

    Like

  4. So sorry for your loss. I don’t know that I can properly address this except to say I so understand. This has been a rather testing few months. I do know that wisdom is often hard earned though and requires being forged sort of like steel has to be heated to bend it. But once it has cooled it can withstand all kinds of pressure. I go to bed thanking God for every single struggle because I know it is the single most purpose filled path to gaining wisdom. 

    Like

    1. I appreciate the flinty strength that has been built into your character through struggle. It does show up in your words, and I consider you as a friend on the same path, ahead of me and blazing trail!

      Like

  5. You were blessed to have each other, so sorry for your loss. The loss draws our eyes upward to His Sovereign hand and plan! You continue to challenge me by your example and humility to submit to that plan. Thank you for writing. He is so near to us when we’re brokenhearted, he is so faithful and good!

    Like

  6. I am so sorry for the loss of this dear family friend. It sounds like you and your family were wonderfully there for her in all her needs, both physical and spiritual! May the Lord bring you peace in knowing that.

    Like

  7. Hi Michelle. I understand exactly where you are at as I have just been through a very similar situation with my dad. He was in a nursing facility for rehab after a 10-day hospital stay. I had been taking care of some business for him and when I spoke with him Wednesday evening we agreed he would call me the next day (Dec. 5) and we would talk about the business stuff. Thursday morning I received a call from the nurse that he had passed away. Did I waste time worrying about and planning for things that would never happen? Perhaps. I’m just thankful that our last conversation ended with “I love you” from each of us.
    I’m looking forward to your insights about wisdom – something I always pray for.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes, I am looking forward to investing some thought into my years-long prayer for wisdom, and you can be sure that I will be sharing what I am learning. Thank you for sharing your own wisdom gained through loss.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend, especially in so unexpected a manner. I’m glad she was with you and not alone. I suppose death is the great unexpected–even when we know it’s coming, we don’t know exactly when or how. We’re in good company with the psalmists in pondering God’s ways that don’t always make sense to us, but we gain wisdom in seeking Him through it all.

    Like

  9. So sorry for your loss! Your story reminds me of my plans to visit my dad before his passing. I bought the plane ticket in the morning to go the next day; but he passed away that night. I struggled with that for awhile; but felt like the great thing was he was not in pain anymore. Yes, I wanted to see him one more time and wondered why God said no. I still don’t know 34 years later. Maybe one day I will.

    I’m so glad your friend was not snowed in at her home alone when she passed!

    Like

  10. Oh Michele. What a blessed treasure Aunt Jit has been in your lives all these years. I know you will miss her deeply. I understand (all too well) the part of the process that you wish you had skipped. (The way I see it, your “slow response” was the only human response you could have had upon losing someone so dear in such a way.) I am in great need of wisdom too, so I am looking forward to learning along with you in 2025.

    Like

  11. Praise God for people like Aunt Jit who never give up, who serve God faithfully year after year, even as age and illness steal their strength. Praise God also for faithful friends like you and your family who come alongside with gracious help when needed. But I must say, I’ve witnessed God-infused wisdom here on your blog, Michele, post after post. You’ve already “got” wisdom! Of course, this is surely a commodity with unlimited depths. For you, my friend, DEEPER wisdom seems appropriate! 😊

    Like

  12. The path to acceptance and peace is sometimes rocky, lengthy, and filled with uncertainty. You made your way through with the wisdom, grace, and the love of God. The process is necessary and you’ve done it oh so well, friend.

    May He continue to give you peace and hope as you grieve and remember and look ahead.

    Like

    1. We’ve both got a lot on our 2025 plates. The bigger our family trees branch out and blossom, the more time we’ll be spending in prayer and the greater our dependence on godly wisdom for learning our role and our right response to so much grace.

      Like

  13. I’m so sorry for your loss. What a good friend you are. Solomon spoke of what we gain in the house of mourning. It’s not a place we want to visit. As I’m reading Richard Wurmbrand’s “In God’s Underground,” I find myself wanting his character and walk with God but not wanting to pay the price he had to pay to gain it. I know Jesus understands.

    Like

    1. Oh, ouch! I’ve had the same realization. We want to experience the benefits of a close walk with God without suffering or uncertainty or loss. You’ve shared an important truth to carry into whatever 2025 brings!

      Like

  14. I’m sorry for the loss of your friend, but I’m sure you and her family were a huge blessing to her in those final months. I like your focus for the year – look forward to reading more!

    Like

  15. I’m so sorry about the passing of your dear friend, but glad to know she is with the Lord. Thank you for sharing the lesson the experience is teaching you about wisdom. I, too, do a lot of “getting” but “getting wisdom” is not always my priority, and it should be.

    Like

  16. What a beautiful gift of love your family gave Jeanette, Michele May the Lord continue to comfort you and your family as you miss your dear friend’s presence. Get Wisdom. What a powerful journey your WOTY will be in 2025! I’m looking forward to your monthly posts regarding all that you are learning and growing in wisdom.

    Like

  18. I am so sorry for your loss of Jeanette. I had a similar experience in 2024. Likewise in April, my uncle was diagnosed with cancer. He lived alone (his wife died in 2022) and never had children. My siblings and I spent months doing the same as you–a flurry of activity of scans, appointments, medications, meals, scheduling, etc. And lots of “what if” scenarios.

    He passed away on November 20 despite it all. But he was at peace and had no apparent pain. We are now busy handling the after-death administrative tasks including distributing/selling his belongings and house. It’s a hard loss, but yes, we too found peace along the way, and for that I’m grateful.

    I love your theme of Get Wisdom for 2025! And I look forward to the wisdom you’ll continue to share with us. Thank you, Michele!

    Like

  20. “..I do so much getting.
    I get ready. I get up, get dressed, get behind, and get caught up again. I get meals, groceries, jokes, the mail, and I sometimes even get a bit of work done in the run of a day. But I’m not sure that I consciously spend much of my “getting” in the procurement of wisdom—the kind of wisdom that takes a long view of the unexpected and rests in God’s sovereign goodness—no matter what…”

    So much food for thought.
    Thanks for sharing.

    Like

Leave a reply to Carole Duff Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.