When Your Dreams Are Shattered...God Cares For You! (Class notes from 10/12/08)

Background Passage: 1 Samuel 15: 34 through 16: 7
A Story of Hope
Losing three members of her family (husband, father, uncle) in a two week period of time, Donna Lucado shares how her faith is sustaining her through the dark and confusing days of grief. Watch the video below.

All of us have dreams. Life is great when they are realized. However, frequently, life becomes hard with twists that we do not expect. Our hopes and our dreams for the present and the future are shattered; and we are thrown into despair.

Today, we are continuing our study of 1 Samuel. Last week, we read about Samuel's anointing of Saul as king. Imagine Samuel's excitement as he met and then anointed God's man as king. Imagine the dreams and hopes that Samuel must have had for his nation as Saul began his reign. Then imagine the disappointment that must have come when Samuel realized that Saul would not fully obey God. Instead, he would become self centered and would lead Israel away from God...back down a road that Samuel had worked years to convince the Israelites not to travel.

I Samuel 15:34-35
In 15:34, Samuel and Saul part company. In 15:35, we learn that Samuel never went to see Saul again but that nonetheless, Samuel went to his home and mourned for Saul.
We have all been there. Life takes an unexpected or undesired turn and it hits home. Our marriage ends. Our finances become strained or collapse altogether. An illness is discovered. Death occurs. A hidden sin is revealed. Life wasn't supposed to be like this and it feels like we have been punched in the stomach. Time seems to stand still and accelerate at the same time. We are in pain and we feel alone. Reflexively, we withdraw; and our grief feels as if it will overwhelm us. We become paralyzed.

1 Samuel 16:1
God finds Samuel in his mourning and asks , "How long will you mourn since I have rejected him (Saul) as king over Israel?" Notice that God gave Samuel time to grieve initially. Ecclesiastes 3:4 tells us that there is "a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance." Mourning is not wrong. God expects us to have emotions including sadness. He created us that way! Matthew 5:4 tells us that those who mourn will be comforted. Isaiah 43: 1-2, 4-5a assures us that God will not allow our circumstances to overwhelm us!
However, just as He reminds Saul that Saul needs to have God's perspective, He expects us to seek His will and to try to look at circumstances from His viewpoint.
In Matthew 11:28 (referenced last week as well) Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.
God gives Saul a job. Likewise, even when we have been buffeted by life, God does not cast us aside. He has a job for you and a job for me. When we are at our lowest moment, we need to seek His will.

I Samuel 16:2-3
Excuses will come. Notice that Samuel initially makes excuses about why he cannot do what God asks. He is fearful of what will happen. What God asks seems to be too much. Likewise, when the Lord initially finds us in our grief and gives us a new job, excuses will flood our mind. "I can't because" will fill our thoughts.
God will support us! In verse 3, God responds to Samuel's excuses. He doesn't chastise Him. He doesn't punish an already grieving man. God assures Samuel that He will show Samuel what to do. God will lead him. He will not abandon Samuel. 1Peter 5: 6-7 tells us to humble ourselves under God's mighty hand that He may lift us up in due time (which of course is just the right time!). We are to cast all our anxiety on Him becasue He cares for us!

1 Samuel 16: 4
We must go. At some point, Samuel got up, filled his horn with oil, and left his home as God instructed. The Bible does not say what his state of mind was at that point. I believe that he was still hurting. However, he was obedient nonetheless. I wonder how many times Samuel thought about pulling the cover over his head on the day of his departure. I wonder how many times Samuel thought of turning around and going back home during the first mile of his journey. I wonder how many times Samuel was ready to quit as he journeyed to anoint yet another man king. When we take the first step forward from our grief, it will be hard. It will initially hurt (remember the Rocky tape showing how hard it was for him the first day of his training. It hurt and he was alone as he ran through the streets). No one can do it for us. We may feel alone. However, at some point we must take the inital step forward.

1 Samuel 16:7
Keep God's perspective. As Samuel looks at Jesse's sons, He begins to see the world around him again. He sees kingly appearing young men and is ready to anoint one king. You can almost feel the hope and excitement returning in Samuel. God reminds Samuel to trust Him because He knows "the real score". Eventually, David is revealed as God's chosen man and as we will learn, He becomes Israel's greatest king. As we emerge from our grief, we often are able to look back and see exactly how God has supported us and cared for us during our hardest times. We become energized and are ready to charge ahead. We need to wait for God during these times and trust His judgement. If we do, He will certainly bring good things our way.

As you pray this week, thank God for understanding your pain, loss, and grief. Thank Him for caring for you and for the assurance that He will raise you up in the due time. Thank Him for being willing to give you a new task and for lovingly moving you forward even when it seems that you don't have the strength for it.

In Love, Mark