3/14/13 Weekly Grace Notes: Being Comfortable In My Own Shoes

Part IV of IV (1 Samuel 17:38-40): We now live in a day and age where we get to see up close and personal what nearly anyone is doing in life on a 24/7 basis. With Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, youTube, reality TV and the like, we now get to follow the lives of our friends, families, and those we admire, as well as those we may not have much love for. And while this new social “antidote” has many wonderful benefits, beware of the negative emotional and spiritual side effects that may result when you ingest too much of it on a daily basis.

First, remember that transparency is not required in the social media, and so many folks let us see what they want us to see, which is often not real! Thus, if we are not careful, we may find ourselves getting discouraged, depressed, and down because we are not experiencing a life that everyone else appears to be enjoying.

Second, keep in mind that our journey is simply that—OURS. Now, understand that in some parts of our journey, we usher in our own self-imposed “drama.” But even in those situations, when we sincerely seek Him, God is just that faithful to work even those things out “for our good.” (Romans 8:28) And because we know that God has plans for each of us to prosper (Jeremiah 29:11), we need not ever get depressed about our status when hearing about others.

In 1 Samuel 17:38, when David went out to fight Goliath, King Saul outfitted him with the best he could offer—his own armor. However, young David was wise enough to quickly recognize that he did not need King Saul’s armor to succeed. God had already equipped him with all that he needed—(verses 39-40 NIV) “David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around because he was not used to them. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

And using what God had already equipped him with, David defeated the giant.

Let us be encouraged today in knowing that we need not yearn to be in other folks' shoes in order to walk in our victory. God gives each of us exactly what we need to succeed. We simply must recognize His voice, trust His direction, and believe that what God works in us equips us for what is before us.

Scripture meditation: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. (New King James Version) Proverb 3:5,6