9 Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.
I read this week about a cognitive bias called the Dunning-Kruger effect, in which a novice believes that he or she is actually an expert. The phenomenon occurs because the person not only lacks expertise but also lacks an appreciation for the capabilities of a true expert.
Do we sometimes suffer from the Dunning-Kruger effect in our relationship with God? We know that our knowledge is imperfect and that His is comprehensive, but do we sometimes overestimate our own intelligence and therefore fail to accept His help, even when we badly need it?
Neil A. Maxwell pointed out that we exhibit this trait when we question God’s timing:
When we are unduly impatient we are suggesting that we know what is best—better than does God. Or, at least, we are asserting that our timetable is better than His. Either way we are questioning the reality of God‘s omniscience as if, as some seem to believe, God were on some sort of postdoctoral fellowship and were not quite in charge of everything (“Patience,” BYU Speeches, November 27, 1979).
Today, I will remember the limitations of my own comprehension. I will humble myself and will be willing to submit to guidance from my Heavenly Father.
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