All Is Vanity, Be Careful...

Be careful what you pray for.

I say this not as a cautionary tale. Not as a deterrence. But rather as a heads up.

For example. Be aware, praying for wisdom... Wisdom comes with a price tag.

Note: I am not saying I am wise. I am very very far from wise.

Did I personally pray for wisdom? Yes... The jury is still out on whether I feel that was a smart prayer, or the most foolish prayer I have ever prayed... It's probably both... Smart and foolish to pray for wisdom.

It's smart because so much good can come from wisdom.

It's foolish because wisdom comes with a price.

Perhaps you disagree with that last statement? The Word very clearly tells us wisdom comes with a price. And I don't think many people notice it does tell us that. I know I read this passage dozens of times and I did not have ears to understand it until this year.

Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

• I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted. I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind. For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
• https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ECC.1.12-18.ESV

See that last sentence?

For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Yeah... For some reason every other time I read that last statement it didn't "click" in my head. But such is life, lessons learned on top of lessons learned on top of lessons learned.

Be careful what you pray for. haha. All answered prayers are amazing and good, because The Lord is Holy.

But that does not mean that answers to prayers do not come with life changes.

And that does not mean that answers to prayers don't introduce new things into your life.

And

That does not mean that answers to prayers do not expand your awareness to more things. More things that might just bring you vexation or sorrow...