Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-17, 1 Chronicles 17:1-15, 2 Samuel 7:18-29, 1 Chronicles 17:16-27, 2 Samuel 8:1-14, 1 Chronicles 18:1-13, Psalm 60
"Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and prayed, 'Who am I, Oh Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?" (2 Samuel 7:18 NLT)
Has God ever brought you this far? Has He carried you to a place where you are speechless and overwhelmed by His goodness and faithfulness? David reflected back on his life and realized he’d arrived at just such a place. From the grassy meadows, to the splendor of the palace, to a drafty cave, and back to the throne, David experienced it all.
After all King David had been through, it is no wonder he needed to sit before the Lord and ask, "Who am I?" I have to think the reward of kingship and royalty paled in comparison to knowing the goodness and faithfulness of God.
When we have taken all of life’s twists and turns, it is good to sit back and reflect on the hand of God in our journey. Marriages, births, new jobs, different houses, steadfast friendships, illnesses, and deaths—all of these are under God’s control. Through it all, if we look, we will see His abundant blessings. Yet those will always pale in comparison to knowing and experiencing His goodness and faithfulness.
No matter what our current circumstances may be, there is always a place of this far around the next bend. Sometimes our ‘this far’ will be in the middle of hard times and we have to set our heart to recognize God's goodness in the midst of hardships and trials and sometimes, our 'this far' isn't until heaven. No matter when it comes, our this far will be a place of celebration, praise, complete humility, and gratitude before our holy God. The hardships we go through are all worthwhile when (notice I did not say if) we get there and pour out blessings to the Lord in praise.