The Best in Me

Have you ever wanted to skip the journey and just get to the destination in life? We live in a world that is so focused on results and outcomes. 

This past weekend I explored the story of David as a powerful example of this. David was anointed as the future king of Israel when he was just a young shepherd boy. But it took 15-20 years before he actually became king. During that time, he served King Saul even as Saul became increasingly jealous and threatened by him. Saul even tried to kill David on multiple occasions.

But here's the amazing thing - when David had the chance to take matters into his own hands and kill Saul, he refused. He wouldn't lay a hand on God's anointed king, even though Saul was acting in opposition to God. David trusted God with the ends and focused on being faithful with the means. 

I can't help but think about how this applies to our own lives. We all face difficult people and challenging circumstances on the journey God has us on. It's easy to want to take control, skip ahead, or get even with those who wrong us. But there's a better way. 

We would do well to ask ourselves the question: What will winning cost me?

As I reflect more on David's story, I'm struck by how God used all those years of being chased by Saul to chisel away some of those things in David that reflected Saul's character. David was certainly a better king than Saul, but as some of his choices would later reveal, he wasn't altogether different than Saul.

I believe God wants to do the same kind of deep work in each of us. He can use the people and situations that make us uncomfortable to shape us and bring out the best in us. We may not understand it at the time, but we can trust that God is good and that God's plans for us are ultimately for our own good.

So what unexpected challenges are you facing today that God might want to use for your growth? How can you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and stay faithful with the means He's given you? The journey is worth it.