(1st Samuel 21)
There are experiences we go through in life that shape our outlook and worldviews.
Some folks call them “The University of Hard Knocks”: they are mostly unpleasant experiences, but they shape us to be better adjusted to life as adults.
Most times when God has a calling on people, He takes them out of their Comfort Zones to learn how to trust Him 100%.
It’s easy to believe God for food if your father is Dangote. Truth be told, you don’t even need God for daily feeding if you have Dangote in your corner, not even as your father.
There’s a degree of “Soft Life” you will live that you can NEVER experience the fullness of God: how can you experience God as Jehovah Jireh (The Provider) when you have capable parents?
You can only know Him in that light in THEORY, not PRACTICALLY.
When I was in the University, I was self sponsored: I wasn’t getting any money sent to me from home. Most times, I had no idea where my next meal would come from. I would go to the cafeteria and buy food without meat- I couldn’t afford to eat meat!
I would do my classmates’ assignments for them for a fee, fetch water in jerrycans for lecturers for a fee- just to survive.
I learned to make stuff with my hands: Cards, Scale Models, etc to survive
But guess what?
I SURVIVED!
I graduated with a 2nd Class Upper Degree in Architecture and went on to get a Masters’ Degree.
I learned to be a SURVIVOR.
Let us look at the story of David…
He was anointed King over Israel aged 17.
Before then, he had survived an attack from a bear, and an attack from a lion.
No sooner he was anointed, he survived a one on one with Goliath.
Then he had a running battle with King Saul for several years…
In 1st Samuel Chapter 21, David was running from King Saul. He got to Nob and saw some Priests there. He lied to them that King Saul sent him on a Mission and asked for food and weapons. Naturally, the Priests were surprised! How could you head out on a Mission for the King without making adequate preparations?
David had to LIE: “The King’s Mission required haste!” In other words, we had to rush out quickly- we couldn’t make much preparations because of the urgency of the Mission.
It sounded plausible, so the Priests obliged him with food and a weapon: Goliath’s sword.
Then he got to Gath, a Philistine town. Achish, King of Gath was told, “this is David the Israelites sang for; “Saul has killed his thousands, David his ten thousands!”
David switched into the Survivor Mode: he pretended to be MAD!
He knew his life was in danger, he had to do something DESPERATE to escape.
I remember a story about a poor young man. Some other young men from affluent backgrounds went out to have fun and he went with them. They had a game they usually play: they would go somewhere to eat and drink, order a cake to be baked for dessert while they ate and drank. They would drop a small marble inside the cake mix before it is baked. When the cake is ready, they would cut it into pieces: whoever has the marble in his piece pays for everything.
As luck would have it, the marble was in the piece of cake the poor young man picked: he swallowed it.
He knew he couldn’t afford to pay for all the food and drinks, so he switched to the Survivor Mode.
Joseph also experienced the Survivor Mode in Egypt, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did in Babylon.
These men had deeper experiences with God than their colleagues because they didn’t take the easy path.
I once asked a friend, “have you ever been in a situation in your life where you have no idea where your next meal is coming from?” She said no.
I just smiled…
NEPO Baby!
The good thing with being a Survivor is, you KNOW you can survive ANYTHING.
Apostle Paul survived a shipwreck.
He survived a snake bite.
He survived beatings.
He survived stoning.
He was a SURVIVOR.
And guess what he called these experiences? “LIGHT AFFLICTIONS” in 2nd Corinthians 4:17. In other words, they were no big deals.
As a Christian you need to learn to switch to the Survivor Mode when you face the Battles of Life: stop running to your Parents, family, friends or Pastors for help every time you face challenges!
Learn from David: he never ran to daddy or his siblings when he was running from Saul.
Learn to TRUST God: move your TRUST in God from just THEORY to PRACTICAL. That is how you develop your FAITH in God, that is how you develop Spiritual STRENGTH, that is how you WIN in Life.
Shalom,
Haruna Daniels