Relief from Unbelief

Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice…they said, ‘No…we will have a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations…’ So the LORD said… ‘Obey their voice, and make them a king.’” 1 Samuel 8:19-22.

Have you ever thought a decision was so right that you went against the advice and wisdom of others? Have you ever wanted something so badly in your life that you were willing to create your own solution and path to obtain it? Well this was what the children of Israel did continuously that created a cycle of being held captive by their own solutions, followed by their cry to God for deliverance. They were even warned by Samuel, God’s messenger when they cried out for a visible king to reign over them and provide for them. They were desiring a counterfeit of what they already had in God. God revealed the consequences to Samuel asking him to relay the outcome to the people. They still cried out demanding their own solution…a visible king just like all the nations surrounding them. They made the mistake in no longer believing that God had their best interest in mind and in His heart. They allowed the world around them to dictate what their world should look like for them.

Are we really any different than those demanding children who were short-sighted and impatient? I know there were times in the past when I knew what I wanted, and I was guilty of running after it in ‘my own way, my own will and my when.’ I would see those popular groups in my community and run after their approval wanting to belong to ‘this group or that group.’ I would look around and deduce that I would be happier if I looked like that person, acted like this person or had their circumstances. Just like the impatient and stubborn children of Israel we think we know what is best for us when really, we are just blinded by our misconceptions and misplaced desires. God always has a better ‘way, when and will’ as He perfectly provides for each of us. He might sometimes give us over to ourselves by allowing our way to win out…but in the end we lose. When we see the circumstances that others have and strike out on our own to emulate their lives, we are really revealing that we don’t trust God for our lives…we have a problem of unbelief. We need a relief from our unbelief and the first step is gratitude for what we have and patience and acceptance for what we don't have. Once we surrender to the One who knows our life better than we do we make space for His plans and we can rest in His best.

December marks one of the greatest times in history where God has His best for you and for me displayed in a wooden manger on a pile of straw. God’s best for Jesus was paved with times of trouble and adversity but it ended well…it ended with a crowned Christ Jesus sitting next to Him on a throne. May we lay down our design for our life, and watch God give us His best.