It's been how long?

 

2 Samuel 2:1-17

Roughly six hundred verses pass before it happens. That represented fifteen years. In 1 Samuel 16, Samuel anointed David as king. That's when David's father brought out each of his sons thinking one of them had to be who Samuel was looking for. They looked the part, but "the Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). So, it surprised Samuel and David's father when the youngest son, David, turned out to be the one. So much filled the next fifteen years. God's anointing doesn't always come with everyone else's approval. And it certainly doesn't make life easy. I'm not sure what David ever thought about his anointing. Was he anxious to be king once Samuel left? Were there times when he felt like maybe he misunderstood what Samuel meant? We live in an instant world. If something doesn't happen soon, we assume something's not right. David didn't know our world. But after a few years, did he ever wonder if things weren't going to work out? The season of Advent is about to begin. It's the beginning of the church calendar. If your church tradition recognizes that season, you'll be hearing about waiting. I suppose that's a good way to start something. With the expectation that you'll have to wait. While you're waiting, especially if it's been a while, you will have questions like the ones we asked about David. It's wise to ask those questions, by the way. Discernment is a part of wisdom. But I will encourage you to hold on to what you know God has put in your heart. If it's God's promise, wait on God's timing. It might be years before you see what God had in mind. You might pass through whole seasons of life before the promise comes to fruition. But hold on. God is faithful. Just like God doesn't look at outward appearance like us, God also doesn't look at time like us. Stay blessed...john