There's a whole genre of Biblical Literature (that is, parts of the Bible) which are generally of the Wisdom type.  The Book of Ecclesiastes, the Song of Solomon, certain Psalms, parts of the prophets especially but also glimpses of it in Jesus' teaching as well as in the letters of the Apostles describe Wisdom and convey Wisdom. 

According to these, the first obstacle which we face when looking for Wisdom is ourselves -- or, more specifically, our inability to step back from our present situation and consider a question dispassionately.  Usually, we call upon teachings of the Bible when we have a point to make which furthers our own ideas and agenda.  How often do we consider the hard things which the Spirit of God has revealed when we are not caught up in a struggle of some kind?  The Holy Spirit urges us to "be still and know that I am God."  But can we do that when we're looking to defend our position, establish ourselves as being on the moral 'high ground' or make a critical decision?  These are the times when we are least likely to acknowledge the legitimacy or insight of true wisdom.  Rather, we must consider what Wisdom is and has to teach us when we are not in the heat of the moment.

To illustrate my point, consider the wisdom of a man named Tsun Tsu (did I spell that correctly?).  He wrote a work we now call "The Art of War" more than three thousand years ago.  He was a Japanese war lord who was trying to educate his Emperor concerning the Wisdom necessary to successfully wage war.  In that work, he enumerates essential principles to be remembered when making strategic decisions concerning war.  However, these principles can be applied or at least translated into many of life's endeavors.  I summarize one such principle as "If you let your opponent determine the time and place of battle, you will lose that battle."  He explains that your enemy will select the time and place for your battle which is most advantageous to him and least advantageous to you.  Do you want to fight a battle in which you have accepted the disadvantage before you even begin?  No.  Then save your strength and resources for battles in which you have the advantage - or at least in which there is a level field.

This principle of Wisdom can be applied to situations very different from warfare.  Using that same example, I would advise a husband or wife not to start a fight or even engage in an argument when you are totally unprepared for it.  If you are unprepared to have this discussion at this time, then it makes sense that you will probably find yourself becoming overly defensive, grasping for ways to defend yourself and attacking your spouse in ways that you didn't intend to.  In short, you'll say and/or do things that you will later regret simply because you got into a discussion that you weren't ready for.  So if your spouse says something like, "You'll get fat if you keep eating those doughnuts" just do not allow yourself to get into an argument over it.  You will end up saying something you regret about their own appearance or parentage.  Wisdom says:  "This is not the time or place for a discussion of my diet."  Just put the doughnut back or take it and get out of the room. Don't open your mouth until you're going to take a bite or something stupid will likely come out of it  Those are the wise choices.

But if you have never studied Tsun Tsu or the principles of Wisdom, you will not discover them when challenged about your eating habits.  If you haven't thought about the wise way of acting before you get into those situations, you will most likely respond by being overly defensive or attacking the other person.  And if that other person has not previously considered the principles of wisdom, then they will react in the same way.  Before you know it, one of you will say or do something vastly disproportionate to the significance of the calories you were about to consume.  Is one doughnut worth a divorce?  We'll all agree that it isn't.

"But it's the principle of the thing!" someone will complain.  "That person is always putting me down, always telling me what I can or can't do, always nagging me and the doughnut was just the last straw." they may say.  So let me get this right:  your marriage is so terrible and has such huge issues that they had to be decided there, in the kitchen, in your pajamas on a Sunday morning before going to Church?  You put off dealing with these major, life-changing decisions until the issues were forced . . . by a doughnut?  I don't buy it.  I would think that if the matter of your marriage was so dire that you would have easily recognized the damage which would be done by getting into it "right here, right now" over a doughnut.

So as I started above I will say again:  the greatest obstacle we face when looking for Wisdom is ourselves; especially our passions or emotions.  Passions/emotions are not reasonable.  Wisdom understands passions and emotions, but Wisdom is primarily an intellectual thing.