What Does God Even Know (or Care) About War, Food, or Babies?

A few months ago, I stood in the middle of Trader Joe's for a solid fifteen minutes debating whether to get almond butter or peanut butter. I wish I were exaggerating. There was a full-on internal war: peanut was cheaper, almond was "healthier" (allegedly), but cashew butter looked like it had its life together. And somewhere between reading the ingredients and Googling "is peanut butter bad for you," I realized—I had not prayed about a single thing that week. Not one. Just vibes and Google.

It got me thinking: when do I ask God for wisdom?

Because I will ask friends, I’ll ask the internet. I’ll ask myself, my gut, my past, and my worst fears, but do I regularly ask God, who knows me, sees the full picture, and cares? About real things? Like war. Food. Babies.

I know, those three things sound random—but they’re not. Saul consulted God before going to war. Joshua and the leaders didn’t consult God before signing a peace treaty with the Gibeonites. Abraham and Sarah made a life-altering decision to pursue a child without asking God. These stories aren’t just dusty old moments in history, they’re divine warnings and invitations. Warnings about how easily we lean on our own understanding, and invitations into deeper dependence on a God who cares.

Not just about salvation. Not just about sin. But about real life.

War, food, and babies might be the far ends of the decision spectrum from survival, to provision, to creation itself but in each of them, God reveals his heart to guide, provide, and protect. He is not distant. He is not uninvolved. He is not leaving us to figure things out on our own and bless it later. He’s near. He’s sovereign. He’s wise. And…this is important…He cares.

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We live in a time when self-sufficiency is a virtue. We are told to follow our dreams, trust our intuition, and build our lives one decision at a time…curated, customized, and carefully branded. The only problem? That’s exhausting. And often, it leads us to decisions made more out of fear, popular trends, or impulse than out of obedience to the Lord.

This is what happened to Joshua and the leaders in Joshua 9. They were on a roll, fresh off a win at Ai, moving through the promised land with momentum. Then some strangers show up (really their neighbors in disguise), posing to be from far away, and ask for a treaty. Joshua and his team inspect their props…the worn-out sandals, the moldy bread and decide it’s legit. So they make peace. Only one problem:

"But they did not ask counsel from the Lord." (Joshua 9:14)

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve made decisions based on moldy bread. The job that looked good on paper. The relationship that made emotional sense. The opportunity that felt too perfect to pass up. And somewhere along the line, I realized—I didn’t ask God. I just assumed. Assumed He’d bless it. Assumed He was fine with it. Assumed that because it wasn’t bad, it must be good.

The truth is, even good things can become problems when we act without God’s guidance and his presence. That’s why Jesus revealed something that should shake every independent soul to the core:

"Apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

Nothing. Not just sermons or spiritual stuff. Nothing. No parenting. No dating. No budgeting. No emotional work. No justice work. No choosing oat milk over 2%. Without Jesus, there is no lasting fruit.

That’s humbling. But it’s also freeing.

Because it means we’re not alone. We don’t have to be experts in everything. We don’t have to outsmart life. We just need to stay close to the Vine.

And here’s the part I sometimes forget: when we do ask, God doesn’t shame us for needing help. He welcomes it. James 1:5 says:

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."

That verse doesn’t say, “Ask once you’ve got your life together.” Or “Ask and God might scold you for not knowing already.” It says God gives generously, and without shaming us for asking. That’s who He is. A generous God who wants to be sought. A wise Father who loves when His kids come to Him with real questions.

So what does this mean for us? Yeah, we millennial Jesus followers who are trying to survive in late-stage capitalism, digital chaos, political fatigue, and personal burnout?

It means we need to relearn what it looks like to ask God first.

Before the launch. Before the proposal. Before the tweet. Before the escape plan. Before the big dream or the small yes.

As we are committed to the will of God, we can invite Jesus into the process…even if it's just standing in a grocery aisle, asking Him, "Hey, what would be wise here? What would be your best Lord?" Not because He’ll always shout back with fire from heaven, but because He delights when we slow down and ask. And he will indeed answer?

God is not far off. He is not uninvolved. He is not waiting at the finish line to tell you if you chose right. He’s the guide. The helper. The friend. The Counselor. And if war, food, and babies matter to Him, then so do all the things you’re carrying right now.

Ask Him.

He loves to answer.