TRUST THE PROCESS

1 Samuel chapter 16








Today we are walking in: Trust The Process










Proverbs 20:6



Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful H529 man who can find?





FAITH





Today we look to the word FAITH-- H529- emuwn--faithfulness, trusting, faithful









The Torah testifies...............


Deuteronomy 32:20



And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith H529











The prophets proclaim..................



Habakkuk 2:4



Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith H529.







The writings bear witness............

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Get Better, Not Bitter


David could have quickly become bitter in his waiting. But, David doesn’t become bitter. Why? David knew that The Most High was using the process to bring about The Most High’s promise for him to be king.


Bitterness is unbelief in the promises of The Most High.


So, here’s what happens: People say, “But, I had faith, and The Most High didn’t do it.” And they’re frustrated because they thought The Most High said it would happen and it didn’t.


I had faith. This is a past-tense statement.


This is not how faith works. If you think you can have faith in a moment, and have your faith go away when nothing happens in that moment, it’s not faith at all.


Faith is what keeps you going until you see The Most High do what He has promised. Faith causes you to say, “I may not have seen it yet, but if The Most High promised it, I am sure I will!”


If you settle in your mind that you will go through a process that The Most High will use to bring about His promises, it will strengthen your faith. In result, you’ll get better instead of getting bitter.


Anointed, Not Appointed


One of the things that seems to hinder a lot of people when trying to trust the process, is that they mistake the anointing of The Most High for the appointing of The Most High.


David had the anointing to be king, but he didn’t yet have the appointment to be king. Sometimes, you can have an anointing on your life to do something, but not the appointing.


Think about this: David could see the anointing. Other people could see the anointing. When Samuel poured the oil over his head and anointed him as king, everyone was watching.


The anointing moment is where it can get tricky. You can see your anointing; you’re a better salesperson than anyone else, you’re a great singer, you have influence, you can counsel, you can lead! And other people can see it, too. They tell you how talented you are, how great you are, and how far you will go!


This can then cause you to think, “Well, I can see it, and others can see it, why can’t The Most High see it? What is The Most High waiting for?”


And through all of this, we get tunnel vision.


What’s tunnel vision? Tunnel vision happens when you are so focused on the light at the end of the tunnel that you can’t see what’s happening around you. Your eyes can’t adjust to your surroundings because all you can see is the light up ahead and so you miss things, or you find yourself tripping over things because you can’t see!


If you can’t see what The Most High is doing in and around you because you are focused on a future dream, you can miss out on a lot of learning experiences and opportunities along the way.


Preparation is Key


After his anointing, David’s appointment was to watch the sheep. Sometimes, we think that watching is just something we do to pass the time until we can do what we’re supposed to do, but that’s not the case. If you’re watching the sheep right now, you’re supposed to watch the sheep. That’s your appointment.


Here’s a third lesson: Preparation must come before the opportunity.


You Can Trust the Process


David goes back to tend the sheep, and what happens?


David Plays the Lyre


1 Samuel 16:14-19 says, Now the Spirit of the The Most High had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the The Most High tormented him. Saul’s attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from The Most High is tormenting you. Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the lyre. He will play when the evil spirit from The Most High comes on you, and you will feel better.” So Saul said to his attendants, “Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.” One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the The Most High is with him.” Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”


It was while David was tending the sheep that he developed his ability to play the lyre and write music. In fact, it was while David was tending the sheep that he wrote Psalm 19:1,


The heavens declare the glory of The Most High; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.


The preparation had to come before the opportunity.


Then, fast forward to the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17.


David Kills Goliath


1 Samuel 17:32-36 says, And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them.”


Again, the preparation had to come before the opportunity.


If You Shortcut the Process, You Short-Circuit the Product!


David had to prepare. If he had never mastered the lyre, he never would have been chosen to play for Saul, and Saul wouldn’t have been familiar with him. If he had never killed the lion and the bear, Saul would not have let him face Goliath, and the Israelites wouldn’t have accepted David as king.


If David didn’t prepare, he would have squandered the opportunity. But he did, and it led to him becoming king!


You may be in a season of waiting. Maybe you have been waiting for a long time, and you are starting to wonder if The Most High will ever bring about His promise. The fact is: You can trust the process.


Let your faith be strengthened. Know that The Most High is preparing you today for what He wants to do through you in the future. He’s teaching you to trust him, to be bold in your faith, He’s growing your character, and He’s fine-tuning your gifts! Trust Him – the process is bringing about the promise!q