"And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented, gathered to him; and he became captain over them. . . ." 1 Samuel 22:2
In the verse above, David is in his time of wandering in the wilderness. Those who were discontent, whether it be with the spiritual status of the day or the rule of Saul was gathering to David. They recognized that there was something more about David. They saw the hand of God on his life, though he was basically homeless and running for his life at the time.
The time of wilderness is a time of waiting. A time that on the surface of things can appear as though it is wasted. In this case, the people had asked for and received a king. His name was Saul and he was one of the most sick and demented of all the kings Israel had. I personally think he had schizophrenia or something similiar to it. But, the people wanted a king, so God gave them what they wanted. But, the time wasn't wasted. For the man God desired to give the throne was being molded and shaped for the day he would take that throne.
In Romans 5:3-5 it says, "And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
Paul, a man who experienced many adversities in furthering the kingdom of God, suffering blows from rods and shipwrecks and stoned at least once. He says these adversities that we go through, though you may not notice now can be used by God to bring about in you character and hope. God means to bring about roses in the desert, water out of rocks, fountains out of tears. God will bring something good out of your misery.
I write this having had a hard day today and a hard week. Some of the people I have been helping lately have had it hard and not all because of what they did, but sometimes because of other people's sins. Sometimes families get broken up, sometimes people chose a dark path to walk down. But, through it all there are also opportunities to learn and to move forward.
Sometimes times of waiting and sitting in the desert as David did here are also times to reevaluate what is important. I really think that is sometimes why God delays in prayer. Because he is giving us time to think through what we really want and to consider why we are really asking. It is a time of pruning and purifying, or refining and redefining. Burn away what is not worth anything, so what ends up lasting is purified as though gold.
Are you in a wilderness today?
What is God trying to show you?
What is He trying to build in you today?
In the verse above, David is in his time of wandering in the wilderness. Those who were discontent, whether it be with the spiritual status of the day or the rule of Saul was gathering to David. They recognized that there was something more about David. They saw the hand of God on his life, though he was basically homeless and running for his life at the time.
The time of wilderness is a time of waiting. A time that on the surface of things can appear as though it is wasted. In this case, the people had asked for and received a king. His name was Saul and he was one of the most sick and demented of all the kings Israel had. I personally think he had schizophrenia or something similiar to it. But, the people wanted a king, so God gave them what they wanted. But, the time wasn't wasted. For the man God desired to give the throne was being molded and shaped for the day he would take that throne.
In Romans 5:3-5 it says, "And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
Paul, a man who experienced many adversities in furthering the kingdom of God, suffering blows from rods and shipwrecks and stoned at least once. He says these adversities that we go through, though you may not notice now can be used by God to bring about in you character and hope. God means to bring about roses in the desert, water out of rocks, fountains out of tears. God will bring something good out of your misery.
I write this having had a hard day today and a hard week. Some of the people I have been helping lately have had it hard and not all because of what they did, but sometimes because of other people's sins. Sometimes families get broken up, sometimes people chose a dark path to walk down. But, through it all there are also opportunities to learn and to move forward.
Sometimes times of waiting and sitting in the desert as David did here are also times to reevaluate what is important. I really think that is sometimes why God delays in prayer. Because he is giving us time to think through what we really want and to consider why we are really asking. It is a time of pruning and purifying, or refining and redefining. Burn away what is not worth anything, so what ends up lasting is purified as though gold.
Are you in a wilderness today?
What is God trying to show you?
What is He trying to build in you today?
