God is into the Unexpected

Have you ever felt like you had a dream to do something, but you just didn’t feel equipped? If so, you’re in good company. Many people throughout history who have made the largest impact started off thinking the same thing.

There’s a guy in the Bible by the name of David, whose dream was activated in one of the most unlikely ways.

1 Samuel 16 says:

So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”

Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

The Hebrew word for “youngest” implies more than age; it suggests rank. He’s more than just the youngest brother. He’s thought of as the least of these.

Sheep watching fits his rank.

And that’s where we find David, in the pasture with the flock. His own father didn’t think David mattered. Why bring him in from the field for Samuel to see? The older brothers were all way more qualified and more capable than he was.

I’m not sure if you’re familiar with the Bible at all (and no worries if you’re not), but Scripture dedicates sixty-six chapters to David’s story, more than anyone else in the Bible outside of Jesus. The New Testament mentions his name fifty-nine times. He will establish and inhabit the world’s most famous city, Jerusalem. The Son of God will be called the Son of David. The greatest psalms will flow from his pen. We’ll call him king, warrior, and giant-killer.

But today, he’s not even included as a possibility for a king. His own father doesn’t even see the potential.

And I just love this! It’s a reminder to me that God is into the unexpected!!

Nobody saw it coming. Nobody would have guessed it. Everything that could have been wrong with David was—except for the fact that God seems to choose him.

I hope this can serve as a reminder to you today.

You are qualified. You’re not perfect. But God has always used imperfect people to do His perfect will. He’s used ordinary people to do extraordinary things. You are qualified. No matter how many times someone has told you otherwise, you really are.

And maybe like David, even those closest to you haven’t really believed in you. Maybe your whole life has been about people telling you that you’re not qualified for this or for that. There has been a seed dropped in your spirit, that God can’t use you because of something you did or didn’t do. Someone told you that you wouldn’t amount to anything. You wouldn’t change anything.

We live in a crazy cynical, hyper-negative, mega-mean world these days where so many seem focused on tearing others down.

So maybe this can serve as a sort of permission slip for you: