[Wisdom's] ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace (Proverbs 3:17).

This is another one of those Proverbs that I struggle to believe.  In an ultimate, over-arching, end-point perspective -- yes, I think that Wisdom's ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.  But in any given moment, looking out from in the midst of a particular situation, my experience is that wisdom's ways can often be very uncomfortable, and many of her paths are a struggle.

Case in point:  sexual wisdom.  The Bible (and especially the Book of Proverbs) is pretty clear that sexuality is to be enjoyed and explored within the context of marriage -- and nowhere else.  But when it comes to applying that wisdom:  Man, it can be hard sometimes!  It's hard to fall in love with someone and enjoy the lead-up to marriage without falling into sexual temptation.  Choosing to wait for sex until after marriage is an uncomfortable, unpleasant, and often unpopular thing to do, for most of us.  It requires self-discipline and a willingness to subjugate our natural impulses -- and to call this process "pleasant" or "peaceful" seems ridiculous.  Does that mean that it's not the wise thing to do?  I don't believe so.  In fact, I know that it is wise -- and that it ultimately leads to the greatest joy and peace in a relationship (thus confirming the truth of Proverbs 3:17).  But it doesn't always feel like it when you're in the midst of the temptations.

Pre-marital sexual wisdom is not the only type of wisdom like this.  The same is very much true of sexual wisdom within marriage.  And it's also true with wise management of resources, wise use of our words, wise eating habits, and wise application of faith within our day-to-day realities (to name just a few others).  Often, it might feel like the most pleasant thing to do in a given moment -- the seemingly best way to bring peace and resolution to the situation -- is to do the foolish thing instead of the wise thing and the right thing.  And it could be easy to justify such decisions and actions according to Proverbs 3:17.  "I was just doing what felt right... I had a peace about it at the time..."

But we do well to take a longer view -- a wider perspective -- when these types of situations come up.  Sometimes discomfort can lead to pleasantness, and struggle can lead to peace... if only we wait long enough to see it.