“Perseverance isn’t a lot of fun. Yet it is perseverance that allows God to take our muddled messes and turn them into miracles. He delights in transforming the black-carbon pressures of our life into diamonds of radiant beauty. But doing all that requires a process. A Process that takes time. A process that is sometimes painful.” – Joanna Weaver, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World
I’ve been reflecting on David a lot lately. Shocking, I’m sure, being that I’m doing an in-depth Bible study on his life as I’m simultaneously trying to read through the Psalms. But it’s interesting how many sermons and books reference him – especially his high points like Goliath and Kingdom-building. The pastors always tell us about how confidently he faced lion, bear, and giant, and how we should seize upon God’s promises as well to enter into the life He has in store for us. Why is it so easy for us to forget how David was almost pinned to the wall twice by a crazy king? How he, the leader of Israel’s army, was so hunted by Israel’s king that he defected to the army of his worst enemy? He had to send his parents to Moab, his wife was given to another man, he hardly saw his best friend. A whole clan of priests was annihilated for giving him a bit of bread. He lived for years with the promise that he would be king, but all the while living like a bandit, gathering unsavory men to himself and trying to make it. I’d like to see a “Take hold of God’s promises for your life” book written with that part of David’s story in mind. Sure, God makes his plans clear sometimes and sometimes delivers in dramatic, miraculous ways. But how much more often is God’s will worked out by the journey – the forming and shaping of our inner selves during the times of struggle, isolation, and wilderness. The ruddy lion-slaying shepherd of a youth was God’s chosen king, but the hardened desert-leader waiting patiently for God’s timing was the one who was so much after God’s heart, whose line would be established forever. We talk about the Christian walk, the blessings God brings into our lives. Yes, we are certain that God works all things for good and that the best is yet to come. But we need to remember that this walk is often an arduous, lonely climb, with thorns and lions on the prowl and earthly powers constantly in opposition. We’re never alone, God provides everything we need for the journey, but we just need to remember that He never promised us it would be a bed of roses on this side of eternity. “For by You I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect. The way of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.” – Psalm 18:29-30
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