Did you miss it...?

          ​I’m going back again to the story of David (1 Samuel 16:1-13). I feel like there is so much about his life that can truly encourage and inspire us. Picture it. King Saul has just lost the kingdom because of disobedience. The prophet Samuel now has to go and anoint another king and he is of course fearful that Saul would find out. But God sets it up so that he can go to Bethlehem and there he has a ceremony to which he invites Jesse and his sons. The interesting thing is that he sanctifies them first then invites them to the ceremony ... but all of Jesse’s sons are not there! He goes through son after son eagerly trying to determine which one God has chosen to be king. All this time, David is out with the sheep doing his job. He is totally clueless as to what is happening. It seems as if he has missed his opportunity, or has he? (vv1-5)
         Life happens... We may be minding our business, doing what we have to do and while doing this, situations, events are taking place that could greatly affect our destiny... We are totally unaware and therefore are robbed of the opportunity to have a say. But, guess what? Even when we don’t know, God knows and sometimes even when life seems to be setting us up to miss out on great opportunities, God has a way of ensuring that we don’t miss a thing.
         Samuel finally reaches to the last son present. God had never even told him beforehand which son to anoint. Now all the sons have been presented but none of them are the one. At this point, Samuel could have given up and stopped. But he didn’t. He knew God too well. If God had sent him to Jesse, then there must be another son. 
         I love the way God has our back. He looks out for us even when we are not there to defend ourselves or to say a word. It’s as if He speaks up for us when we are not there to speak for ourselves. So, Samuel asked the all-important question: “Are all the young men here?” (v11)
         Let me just plug this in here. Sometimes we stop at what we see. All we see is the obstruction, the hindrance, what looks like the end of our story. But God may be saying no, it’s not the end. He can see around the corners we can’t see around. He can see through the wall that our eyes cannot see through and unless our God says “stop! give up! it’s over!” then it’s not over. It takes faith and trust in the God who is able to take us further - through the wall and around the corner! After all you don’t want to miss God’s best for you and it may be just behind that wall or around that corner!
         So, just like that, with one question, David enters the scene. I’m not sure if he even got the chance to be sanctified for the ceremony like his father and brothers had but it didn’t matter. He was the chosen one. God had chosen him even before Samuel got there. God had probably chosen him before He chose Saul. But he was not ready then. God instead had been preparing him, allowing him to be different from his brothers, tending sheep while they were doing other maybe more important things. He wasn’t looking like “king” material either. After all Samuel had been quick to choose his eldest brother, Eliab as king. But the Lord told him not to look at the outward appearance but at the heart (v 6-7). 
         In my own life I can recall various times when I was in the background minding my business and just growing in God. I had no idea what God had in store for me. I had re-dedicated my life to God, got filled with His Holy Spirit and was just enjoying intimacy with Him like I had never experienced before. In a short space of time I found myself a youth leader, a musician, a Sunday School teacher and suddenly involved in ministry in ways that I did not even expect. I was not in the forefront but in the background spending my time with God and enjoying every minute of it. When God pulled me forward, it was all Him. I did not have a conversation with anyone. I did not know what was on anyone’s mind for me. I was just minding my own business. But God saw me and was preparing me and I did not even know it. I was not even thinking of “opportunities” but clearly God had them all lined up and I did not even know.
         What God has for you is for you. Even when you are not there to “campaign” on your own behalf; even when others are chosen instead of you, God’s plan for “you” is still intact. It does not change. How wonderful to know that when you take care of God’s business He will take care of yours! 
         If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as Lord and Savior please take the opportunity to do so now. God has such beautiful plans for your life, far better than anything you could dream up yourself. Give Him a chance today and allow Him to wow you and surprise you!
          

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