Ever wondered why some seem comfortable with certain things and you don’t? Or, it seems to be working for them but not you?
”David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before. “I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again. He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.“ 1 Samuel 17:39-40 NLT
Reflection
In our Christian walk, if we are fortunate, we will find people who simply just seem like they get it. They demonstrate their faith, have a good way about them, trust in God, and it just seems like their life is going very well. We also find on that path some that just seem like it doesn’t fit? If you have the chance to be part of a “small group” which is affectionate way of calling a gathering of “like minded” people this dynamic seems to come out fairly often.
In the old testament we have the story of David. A young person fiercely devoted to God and stepping in to do something in a way others were not doing it.
He came to the front line just as he was. No armor. Hadn’t even put such things on. But he had something others didn’t. He was not a solider, didn’t have group think, believed in the Heavenly Father like many of the others did but with full trust.
Have you ever been trying to adapt a method or an approach like others and it really didn’t work for you? Didn’t feel comfortable? Gave it a good try but still something just wasn’t right?
Our faith journey really needs to be considered custom. God and you are working it out together. He provides you many approaches. He introduces you to many kinds of people. He navigates with you many circumstances. Ultimately, it is how you navigate with Him that determines just how faith fits you.
David was open to trying what others suggested in his story. He wore Saul's armor as a gesture of goodwill from Saul, but ultimately decided to stick to his familiar method. This approach had proven effective for him in the past when facing unpredictable and larger foes. David's main mission was to defend himself and defeat what appeared to be a stronger enemy, even though he wasn't sure how to combat it. He had an approach that he had practiced and it worked before.
In that story David stays true to himself. It worked. For me the biggest part of that and the one that sticks out was his unwavering faith toward God. He surrendered and trusted that he would be fine and God would deliver him. It worked out for David. It began a new part of the path that would ultimately lead to David becoming a King. We could spend a good deal of time on the faith journey of David. It isn’t a straight line. It probably resembles many of our own. We started with a childlike faith but life gets in the way. Decisions are made and consequences ensue. However, in the end, guided by faith we find our way back to where God needs us to be.
The point is straightforward: regardless of who you are or how you are, we are all on a journey of faith. God extends an invitation to us to pursue this journey and provides various opportunities to deepen it. Experiment with different things and assess their suitability. If they resonate with you, you may have found something that enhances your life. If not, simply let it go. The key is to maintain a desire to trust God and His plan for you. Stay committed, be open to acceptance and rejection, and remain true to your authentic self.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for the story of David and the lesson we can learn from him. Help us give many things the chance to work for us as we pursue you through our faith. Give us the confidence to accept those things that do work and to eliminate the ones that do not. Please keep us, our families and our friends safe. We pray this in the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.
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