See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)
A way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland… WHAT?! Those things are so unlikely! Who looks for steams in the wasteland?! We look for streams in the vicinity of a larger body of water! And wilderness by definition is wild, there is nothing marked, so who looks there for a way?! We look for ways in a national park with known trails but you don’t go to the wilderness looking for a way just as you don’t go looking for a stream in a wasteland; it’s just impossible. And yet… as believers in Jesus, the Word of God, we do look for the impossible in the I-M-possible! The great I AM (Ex. 3:14) in Matthew 19:26 (NIV) has said, … with God all things are possible.”
So when we find ourselves a “wasteland” or in a “wilderness” let’s not exhaust ourselves looking for the impossible but rather looking to I AM. He is our greatest provision of peace that flows like a river through any wasteland and is our Way in and through every wilderness; we are never alone!
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)
I can do all things through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NIV)
I wonder how often David, the shepherd boy, had to remind himself of that Truth as he wandered the wilderness, the pasture, tending his father’s sheep while all his brothers were off at battle?! Our God was working a way even as David wandered in the wilderness. David was Jesse’s 8th son and the number 8 symbolizes new beginnings!
1 Samuel 16 finds king Saul tormented by an evil spirit and he is in need of someone to play the harp to help ease his discomfort. One of king Saul’s servants speaks up and says, … “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the LORD is with him.” Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” 1 Samuel 16:18-19 (NIV)
David was just serving the sheep in the pasture faithfully like he did everyday when he was suddenly pulled up to the palace for service! Even from his position in the pasture someone was able to notice that David had musical ability and was brave, not just any brave but warrior brave! They noticed that the David in the pasture spoke well and was fine-looking! Why?! Because David treated his job in the pasture like it WAS a job in the palace. He must have come dressed for success (fine looking) even in the pasture. He must have used clean, encouraging language (spoke well) even in the pasture. He must never have gotten lazy but even in the dead of night made sure every last sheep was never left unprotected, unguarded (warrior brave); even if they were just sheep and he was just in the pasture. He used his musical ability even in the pasture even if he played just to sheep. Why? Because the Lord was with him and God had put a song in David’s heart, even in the pasture! Just as God can make a way in the wilderness and streams in a wasteland… He can turn your pasture into a palace as you abide in His presence dear one.
David’s performance was not influenced by his placement; whether in the pasture or palace David was motivated by God’s presence. David brought excellence in everything because it was his God he was serving through the power of the Holy Spirit; and people couldn’t help but notice something different in Him! That influential difference began in the pasture and moved to the palace. What “pasture” has God perfectly positioned you in, to be His “number 8”, His avenue to ussure in new beginnings to the glory of His name?
It’s never about placement or performance, pasture or palace, it’s about His presence in you. With God, Who is The Way, streams will flow even in a wasteland. If David had based his life’s perspective on his pasture surroundings he never would have made it to the palace. Allow God’s faithful presence to filter your perspective in the land of your service (even if it’s in the pasture) and you will thrive on the journey to your Heavenly Palace dear one.
Redeeming Grace 99|1 Ministries 