Breaking Free From Consuming Emotions | 1 Samuel 16:1-4

Are there consuming emotions that prevent you from seeing God's plan?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

This week, we are in 1 Samuel 16. I've titled this chapter "God's Criteria for Choosing Leaders."

Today, we pick up right after Samuel had done two things: First, he told King Saul God had rejected him. Second, he hacked Agag to pieces because King Saul had not done it. Today, we pick up in Samuel 16 with verses 1-4, where Samuel is now back at his home:

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.” — 1 Samuel 16:1-4

We see Samuel's human side here. Like all of us, he experienced grief and fear.

These are real human emotions and concerns we will all experience at some point. We experience grief in relationships when we encounter human frailty, sin, or loss. We experience fear when the future is uncertain, our family is falling apart, or we suddenly lose jobs. And when these things happen, we tend to become overly concerned about ourselves, precisely what Samuel has done here.

But usually, in your time of great grief and fear, God is up to something. You won't always see it because you will tend to become overly focused on yourself. Therefore, God and his plan will seem far from you because you have made too much of the situation and how you feel.

This is what Samuel has done, and God is trying to help him snap out of it.

So, notice what God tells Samuel to do to help him snap out of it. He tells him to do his job, be obedient, get a heifer, and make a sacrifice. In short, God tells him to be obedient in his grief and fear, like he always has, even though those steps are hard to take.

The principle is this: In difficult times, our obedience is how God reveals his plan and provides relief.

God had a plan for Israel, a plan for the next king, and a plan to relieve Samuel of his grief and fears. This plan would only be realized if he took the hard steps of obedience. It was not going to be revealed by focusing on his grief or being consumed by his fears. It would only be revealed if he did what he always did, continued to listen to God in this hard moment, and acted in obedience.

If you are currently consumed by concerning emotions, the best thing you can do is turn your focus to God and continue to be obedient to him. Ruminating on your losses and problems won't help, but taking steps of obedience will. Eventually, through obedience, you will see God's plan for your marriage, your career, your loss, and even your egregious sin.

God, I pray that you will give us strength to be obedient to you today and that you will relieve us of those consuming and concerning emotions that prevent us from seeing your plan. Amen.

#FaithOverFear, #ObedienceInTrials, #TrustGodsPlan

Ask This:
What emotions are currently consuming you, and how might obedience to God's Word help you regain focus on His plan?
Can you recall a time when choosing obedience in a difficult situation revealed God's purpose for your life? How did that experience shape your faith?
Do This:
Be obedient, and God will reveal his plan to you.

Pray This:
Lord, help me to trust Your plan even when I’m overwhelmed by fear and grief. Give me the strength to be obedient, knowing that through my faithfulness, You will reveal Your purpose. Amen.

Play This:
Have It All.