“He chose his servant David, calling him from the sheep pens. He took David from tending the ewes and lambs and made him the shepherd of Jacob’s descendants— God’s own people, Israel. He cared for them with a true heart and led them with skillful hands.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭78‬:‭70‬-‭72‬ ‭

God used the one who had learned to love sheep to be the one to care for His people. The waiting period doesn’t have to be boring. It can be a time of refining our character, cultivating our heart, and of learning God‘s heart.

During the waiting David was being prepared. Shepherding was a mindless task so David was able to ponder on the Lord. To sing songs to the Lord. His character was being developed. He may not have felt great about the position he was in but when the time was right God had a new position for him. Suddenly, on a day like any other, his father called for him and Samuel anointed him a king.

“These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” 1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬

“So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬

Allow Him to refine your character. He loves you so much. For God to move you before you’re ready, would harm you far grader than what  it would help you. Be still and know that He is God. Give him your heart. Rest in his presence.

I love my baby so much.  If I give him food before he’s ready, he’ll choke. How much more does God love us. God loves you too much to take you out of the field, shepherding sheep, before you’re ready. Don’t get frustrated with where you are. There’s always a purpose. Always a purpose for what he’s doing right where you’re at. You are where you are for a reason.

If God looked at a man’s heart to decide the future king of His people, we need to be concerned of the status of our own heart. If God looks at the heart, how important it is for us to make sure our heart is right before God.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭

Pray this every day. Let it be our cry. Say to Him, I know I prayed it yesterday, but how easy it is for my heart to drift. Search me again today. Know me. Know my heart. Purify me. If it’s our heart that he wants, then it’s our heart that needs to stay close to Him; transformed daily to reflect His image.

“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.” 1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬ ‭

God knows the right time. He knows when we are ready for the task He has been preparing us for; when we have been tested, refined and look like Jesus.