The Bible is full of stories of real-life people with real-life circumstances from which we can learn. Sometimes we may get a lesson in what not to do, but often we can see a good example of what we should do. One of the heroes of the Bible that really teaches us about an “all in” relationship with God is King David. He started as a humble shepherd boy with no extraordinary future in the eyes of men. But God had a very different plan for his life. As a young boy he heard the message that he was going to be Israel’s King. (1 Samuel 16) But he didn’t find himself suddenly on the throne. To the contrary. Despite knowing God had a different plan for him, he continued to faithfully serve the current King while he waited. And even when King Saul’s fear of David’s looming take over sent David on the run, literally fleeing for his very life, he never lost hope in God’s plan.
There has been a thought playing through my mind over the last couple of days. – Stop trying to make things happen and let things happen! – I can think of plenty of times when I thought I would help God out by taking matters into my own hands. I was pretty sure it was his plan, and he just needed a little bit of help to get it going. In hindsight, things would have gone more smoothly if I had allowed God to be God!
There were many times when David could have taken the throne from Saul in his own timing, but instead he patiently waited for God. The Psalms record many of David’s faithful prayers while he waited for God’s plan to unfold and his words can give us hope while we wait patiently for God’s plan in our life to unfold.
In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. – Psalm 5:3
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. – Psalm 27:14
We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. – Psalm 33:20
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. – Psalm 37:7
Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God. – Psalm 38:15
I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. – Psalm 40:1
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. – Psalm 130:5