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Your struggles, Your setbacks, Your circumstances are designed for a specific purpose. Embrace them and watch God work wonders through your life.

Joseph was loved and pampered by his father, to the point where his special treatment created friction in the home. Jealousy eventually drove his brothers to sell him into slavery, but Joseph continued to dream big dreams, and later became the first prime minister of Egypt. David was disregarded by his older brothers and was given the lowly task of taking care of his father’s sheep, alone in the wilderness, but his ‘alone-ness’ helped him develop a relationship with the Designer, and when God wanted a king, He sent Samuel to anoint David, though he was but a youth. Sarah was a beautiful woman but she was barren, and in her culture that was a curse. In time, God visited her and promise that she would bear a son. Years passed and Sarah became discouraged and advised her husband to get another woman pregnant, but even after she was past the age of childbearing God kept His word, and through her the nation of Israel was born. Ruth came from a tribe that was greatly despised, and thought that she could change her circumstances by marrying a Levi, but her husband died young, leaving her with nothing. The opportunity came and she left her homeland, and one who was despised, became the mother of the kingly lineage of the King of Kings. Moses was born at a time when his people were enslaved and every male child that was born was to be thrown in the river, but the very thing that was meant for his destruction became the vehicle for the deliverance of not only his family, but an entire nation.

King David in the book of 2 Samuel 6 (compare 1 Chronicles 13) supervised the return of the Ark of the Covenant from the house of Obed-edom to the city of Jerusalem. The Ark played a significant role in the life and history of the Israelites. It represents the Glory of God. It represents the Presence of God. It went ahead of them in battles. When they crossed over the Jordan to the Promised Land, it was as the priests who bore the Ark, step in the Jordan River that they were able to cross over. In every major event in their history the Ark was there, going before them, leading the way. So this day was of great significance, as the Ark was taken away during Israel’s battle with the Philistines and it was now returning to Jerusalem after more than twenty years. It was a joyous occasion. Yet the most striking sight at this event was King David’s behavior. Taking off his royal robes David led the procession leaping and dancing before the Lord with everything in him. David did not get to this place in his life; a place of total abandonment in God, without harsh and difficult experiences. It was his experiences; I call them wilderness experiences, which brought him to this place. The wilderness is a harsh place to live. In many cases, it is a barren place, unpredictable and dangerous, a place of discomfort, a place where we have little or no control. It is a desolate place, hostile to both man and beast. Yet we find that it is in the wilderness that God begin life changing events in our lives. Most of the saints of old have an encounter with God in the wilderness, the place where it seems that nothing could grow. It was in the wilderness that David learned to love and trust God. As a young lad, David kept the sheep of his father Jesse. His job it was to ensure their safety and keep. In those moments of solitude, he met and established a relationship with the God of the universe. Perhaps it was during one of those times that he penned the wonderful psalms: The Lord is my shepherd (relationship) I shall not want (provision) Ps. 23. He had so much confidence in God, that as a youth he was able to go up against Goliath a seasoned warrior and a giant, with only a slingshot, saying ‘I come to you in the name of the Lord’( 1 Samuel 17). After his anointing by the hand of Samuel the priest, David was persecuted by King Saul and had to flee into the desert (wilderness). In this place of desolation he found refuge from his enemies. Far from the comfort of home, far from the comfort of this world, he learned that the Lord is our sustainer. His experience in the wilderness taught him to say; “In the Lord I take refuge, how can you say to my soul, flee as a bird to your mountain” (Psalm 11:1) ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?” (Ps. 27:1). “The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble, the name of the God of Jacob defend thee” (Ps 20:1). “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Ps 46:1). “I wait patiently for the Lord, and He inclined unto me and heard my cry” (Ps 40:1) and I could go on and on. Yes, David’s experiences were harsh, unpredictable and dangerous. Twice Saul threw his javelin to kill him while he played skillfully before him. In 1 Samuel 21: 10-15 he had to pretend madness before King Achish when he feared for his life. David had many harsh experiences but these experiences fashioned and shape his character in such a way that God Himself chose him to shepherd His people Israel and to say of him: “I have sought for a man after my own heart and has commanded him to be commander over my people” (1 Samuel 13:11). When Israel wanted a king, Saul was selected. When God needed a shepherd David was chosen. Both Kings were anointed by Samuel but what a contrast! One disobeyed and was rejected. One obeyed and his kingdom was established forever. What a difference the outcome would have been for Saul, if Saul’s choices were to live in obedience to God. Whatever God has set in motion in your life, if God chose you, you will make it. God knows where He is taking you and though you may stumble or come up against some difficult circumstances along the way, what you need to recognize is that God knows the way. He has ordered your steps, knowing exactly where He intends to take you. You are not walking alone or without purpose. Your destination has been ordained by God. < hr >
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