A Way In The WildernessSample

A Place Of Preparation

The stage was set. The atmosphere was thick. On the one end, the air was filled with confidence, and the other, saturated with fear. For forty days, Goliath, the Philistine, taunted the armies of Israel. He paralyzed their will to fight by his sheer size. After all, how many of us have seen a man who is nearly 10 feet tall? That is quite an unbeatable height! Moreover, Goliath was a champion warrior and David, inexperienced. Or was he?

David was the youngest son of Jesse of Bethlehem and he was tasked to tend his father’s sheep. Over the years, David faced his share of challenges while carrying out his duty. If there was any man that knew the wilderness, it was David. In that lonely place of obscurity, his character was shaped. He learnt what it meant to solely depend on God and to be consistently faithful in his duties.  

When David heard Goliath’s challenge against the armies of the living God, he arose indignant. He knew something had to be done. It would turn out that his wilderness experience, which was fraught with battles of killing lions and bears, had prepared him for this moment. After David’s triumph over Goliath, the Philistines ran away scared and the army of Israel pursued and decimated them.

Perhaps you feel stuck in a place that seemingly appears mundane and purposeless. Remember that you are not alone. Stay faithful. Do not lose heart. Nothing that God sets us up for is ever wasted. During such times, we need to learn to keep our heads down, our hearts right and just do the work. 

• Do you see your present situation as preparation for your future? Why? 
• What steps can you take that would help shift your perspective of the season you are in now? Commit them to prayer.