Verse 5 tells us if we lack wisdom, to ask God and he will freely give it to us. We are also told that we must not doubt when we ask. We must have faith before we have wisdom. You cannot have one without the other. I think that trials help us to gain a better or different perspective. I have, so many times looked back after a trial and seen the awesome work God has done and been in awe. The wisest people in this world are the ones who have been through a tremendous amount of strife but all the while they were letting God carry them instead of going on thier own.