Every race has a starting line. You can be the fastest runner at your school, but if you start in the wrong spot, you’re not going to finish where you’re supposed to. Wisdom has a starting line too, and the Bible tells us exactly where it is.

A man named Job had one of the hardest years anybody has ever had. He lost almost everything. His friends sat with him and argued about why it all happened, and Job had big questions—the same kinds of questions you might have when something happens that doesn’t seem fair.

Job asked, “But where can wisdom be found?... From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?” And then he found the answer: “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom” (Job 28:12, 20, 28). Years later, Solomon wrote the same thing: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

So what does “the fear of the Lord” mean? It doesn’t mean being scared of God. It means having so much respect for God that you put His plans above your own plans. It means saying, “God, You know everything and I don’t, so I’m going to trust You even when I can’t figure this out.” That’s actually a relief! You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to know the One who does.

Think About It: Is there something happening in your life right now that seems unfair or confusing? You don’t have to understand it all. But you can start where wisdom starts: “God, I don’t understand this, but I know You’re good and You see the whole picture.” That’s the smartest starting line there is!