The Choosing of David Shembull

God Notices You

It seems that God calls on busy people. Gideon, Moses, Elijah, Nehemiah, Amos, Peter, Andrew, James, John, and Matthew were all busy and had something going on. Yet God said, “I want you to come.” God hits moving targets so that we move forward, stay faithful, and continue walking with Him. 

Pastor and author Paul Tripp said it like this: “God knows, He understands, He is in control of what appears to be chaos. He is never surprised. He is never confused. He never worries or loses a night’s sleep. He never walks off the job to take a rest. He never gets so busy with one thing that He neglects another thing. He never plays favorites.” 

God knows exactly where you are. If you remain faithful, He will take you wherever He wants you to be. You may make less money. You may have less notoriety. He may not lead you to worldly success. People look at the outside, but God looks at the heart. Nobody noticed David. His whole family had forgotten about him. But God knew where to find him. He will place you where He wants you to be. 

A few months ago, my children found my report cards from high school, and they wondered why I am often busting their chops. They saw nothing but Cs in my report cards. I told them C was for “cool,” and they could do better than me. All jokes aside, I want you to understand that God uses the unlikely. Maybe with my past grades, nobody would have thought that I could be on the Board of Trustees at Houston Baptist University or a senior pastor with Houston First Baptist Church. Still, God places us where He wants us to be. 

Nobody may have noticed David, but God did. The only reason we stand in that line of opportunity is God. There will be moments in your life that you look around and say, “I don’t know how I got here, but the Lord is with me, and I am grateful.” 

Trust that the Lord is with you even when you are grieving or going through a tough season. New seasons, as good as they look, can be intimidating. The hard seasons can make us feel uncertain about life. However, God’s promise is that you are never forsaken. He is your peace and comfort through those unsure moments. He is taking you to higher places and opening doors of opportunity. His love is big enough to cast out your fears.