Do you ever feel like taking matters into your own hands? I mean, you've wanted something for what seems like too long? Maybe you've been praying for a change of circumstances or relationships or status and nothing seems to be happening? In the book of 1 Samuel, David may have felt the same way. He had every reason to take matters into his own hands. He had been anointed by the prophet Samuel as the future king of Israel. The promise had already been spoken over David's life. Yet instead of sitting on a throne, David was being hunted by the current king, Saul, and found himself hiding in caves and running for his life.
Then came the moment that seemed like the perfect opportunity.
Without knowing that David and his men were hiding in the back of a cave, King Saul unknowingly entered. David's men whispered in his ear, “Look, this is the day the Lord told you about: ‘I will hand your enemy over to you so you can do to him whatever you desire.’” It looked like the logical thing to do. It certainly looked convenient. All the stars were lining up perfectly.
But David knew something deeper. Not every opportunity is God's timing.
Read that statement again.
Instead of taking Saul's life, David snuck up behind him and cut off the corner of Saul's robe. Even that action bothered David because he felt he had dishonored the Lord's anointed king. David refused to force open a promised door. He chose to trust that if God wanted him on the throne, God would open the door and place him there in the right season.
This is one of the hardest life lessons for a believer to learn. Will you trust God's promises even if you have to wait on His timing? So often we want to rush relationships and careers and ministry opportunities and answers to prayer. It is tempting while we wait to manipulate others or our circumstances. Voices seem to whisper in our ears to kick open doors or grab at things before their time. But God does not need our impatience to fulfill His plan.
My neighbors down the street have an apple tree that produces lots of green apples. My son and I look forward to seeing the apples start to appear on the branches. Because they are green apples, we struggle to know when they are ripe and ready to be picked. Usually, our desire gets the best of us and we pick a couple to bite into only to find ourselves spitting it out on the ground. Picking fruit before its season leads to something that looks ready on the outside but lacks sweetness, depth, and nourishment on the inside. In life, rushing growth or forcing outcomes too early often produces bitter disappointment instead of fulfillment.
In 1 Samuel 24:1-7, David teaches us that faith is not only believing God can do it, but trust God to do it in His time and in His way. What God has in store for you does not have to be forced, rushed, or stolen. His promises are never early and never late. They are always right on time.
