Matthias Learns to Seek God First
Lord Jesus, teach us to seek You first. When our thoughts feel like waves, steady us with Your wisdom, Your Word, and Your peace. Amen.
Matthias sat alone on the courtyard bench with his phone in his hand.
He had been staring at the same message for several minutes.
It was not a bad message.
It was not even a big decision to anyone else.
But to Matthias, it felt heavy.
He wanted to answer quickly. Part of him wanted to fix the situation right away. Another part of him wanted to avoid it completely. His thoughts kept moving back and forth like waves in the ocean.
Should I say yes?
Should I say no?
What if they get upset?
What if I make the wrong choice?
What if I should have prayed longer?
What if God wanted me to do something different?
Matthias sighed and put his phone face down beside him.
Azzah noticed him from across the courtyard and walked over with her sketchbook tucked under her arm.
“You look like your thoughts are loud,” she said gently.
Matthias gave a small smile. “They are.”
Kazim and Brent walked over next, and Kayden sat beside Matthias on the bench.
“What’s going on?” Brent asked.
Matthias looked down. “I’m trying to make a decision, but I keep second-guessing everything. Sometimes I make quick decisions and then wonder if I even asked God first. But even when I do pray, I start wondering if I prayed the right way or asked the right question.”
Kayden nodded slowly. “That sounds exhausting.”
“It is,” Matthias said. “It feels like I’m being tossed back and forth inside.”
Azzah opened her sketchbook and began drawing waves. Some were tall and rough, pushed by the wind. Then she drew a small anchor in the middle of them.
Kazim looked at the picture. “That’s what fear does. It pushes you around.”
Matthias nodded. “I don’t want to live like that. I want to seek God first. I just don’t always know if I am.”
Kayden said softly, “Maybe seeking God first starts with pausing instead of panicking.”
Brent leaned against the bench. “And asking for wisdom instead of trying to figure everything out alone.”
Matthias picked up his phone and opened his Bible app. He turned to James 1 and read:
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
— James 1:5
He read it again, slower this time.
“God gives wisdom generously,” Matthias said. “And without finding fault.”
Azzah smiled. “That means He doesn’t shame you for needing help.”
Kazim added, “He doesn’t say, ‘You should already know this.'”
Kayden said, “He invites you to ask.”
Matthias kept reading. James also warned about being double-minded and tossed like a wave of the sea.
“That’s the part that gets me,” Matthias admitted. “I know what it feels like to be double-minded. I ask God for wisdom, but then fear starts arguing with me.”
Brent nodded. “Maybe double-mindedness is when fear gets more of our attention than God’s voice.”
The group grew quiet.
Matthias looked at the sketch Azzah had drawn—the waves, the wind, and the little anchor.
“I think I’ve made a lot of decisions from fear,” he said. “Fear of disappointing people. Fear of getting it wrong. Fear of being misunderstood. Fear of not being enough.”
Kayden looked at him kindly. “But you’re learning. That matters.”
Matthias breathed deeply.
“I’m not perfect in my faith,” he said. “But maybe Jesus is perfecting my faith.”
Azzah’s eyes softened. “By the Holy Spirit.”
Matthias nodded. “Through my King and Savior.”
He picked up his phone again, but this time he did not rush to answer the message. He bowed his head.
“Lord,” he prayed quietly, “I need wisdom. Forgive me for moving too quickly without seeking You. Forgive me for double-mindedness and fear. Steady my heart. Help me obey You with peace.”
When Matthias lifted his head, the decision had not magically become easy. But his heart felt quieter.
The waves were still there.
But now there was an anchor.
And Matthias remembered something important:
Wisdom begins when we stop pretending we know the way and ask the One who is the Way.
Heart Lesson
Sometimes decisions feel heavy because fear makes our thoughts loud.
We may rush ahead without praying.
Or we may pray and then second-guess everything.
We may feel tossed back and forth like waves in the wind.
But God does not shame us for needing wisdom.
He invites us to ask.
Jesus wants to steady our hearts. The Holy Spirit helps us grow in wisdom, faith, obedience, and peace.
We do not have to make decisions in panic.
We can pause.
We can pray.
We can ask God for wisdom.
We can trust Him to guide us.
Sacred Pause
What decision am I trying to make right now?
Am I being led by wisdom or pushed by fear?
Have I asked God for wisdom before moving forward?
Where do I need Jesus to steady the waves in my heart?
Prayer of Repentance
Lord Jesus,
Forgive me for the times I made decisions without seeking You first. Forgive me for reacting from fear, pressure, pride, urgency, or confusion.
Forgive me for double-mindedness. Forgive me for asking you for wisdom and then letting fear toss my thoughts like waves in the sea.
Teach me to pause before I react. Teach me to pray before I decide. Teach me to trust Your wisdom more than my own understanding.
Thank You for giving wisdom generously and without finding fault. Thank You that You do not shame me for needing help.
Holy Spirit, anchor me in Christ. Make my faith steady. Help me walk in wisdom, humility, obedience, and peace.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Closing Prayer
Father God,
Bless every young person who feels overwhelmed by decisions, pressure, fear, or confusion. Teach them to seek You first. Remind them that they do not have to figure everything out alone.
When their thoughts feel like waves, anchor them in Jesus. When fear gets loud, speak peace. When they do not know what to do, give them wisdom.
Perfect their faith by Your Spirit.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Memory Verse
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
— James 1:5
Youth Reminder
Wisdom begins when we stop pretending we know the way and ask the One who is the Way.
Soli Deo Gloria