Thus far we have been looking at the life of David and what it means for each of us to come into our destiny while being prepared in our current situations. In EMPOWERED 1, we took a few moments to reflect on our large dreams and bring those before the Lord again. It is important to keep our big dreams, how ever far off they may seem before us and God and continue to let Him expand those dreams. Dying dreams make for disappointment and can cripple us in completing the assignments and fighting the battles of today. Just like David, there may be a long time span between receiving your dreams, and them happening: “being anointed is NOT the same as being appointed!” What is your current dream?
In that in-between time, where we have seen a bigger picture of where God is taking us into our destiny, and we are hopefully expecting to be appointed into that calling, what we do is paramount. David worshipped while tending sheep, he gained skills in defeating lions and bears, and he laid a foundation of a shepherd’s heart that would last a lifetime. David defeated his own bears and lions before he defeated his nation’s giants! Before he was king, David went through seasons as a palace musician, giant slayer, military leader, and rogue fugitive. How well he did in each of those assignments laid a foundation for his later success as king. What is your current assignment?
But, knowing our current assignment isn’t enough. Along with our current assignments, we need to take some time to reflect on our current obstacles. This could be temptations we need to conquer, character to be formed, faith to be stretched, skills acquired, relationship built, or other areas of life where we struggle with our view of God, ourselves or others.
One main way we get in trouble is if we start to think that it is just “me and God” going after our dreams and doing Kingdom works. But this precludes the idea of our adversary who is actively out to block us. Hindrances and obstacles many times are from our active opponent. If you don’t know your current obstacles, then you don’t the schemes of the enemy against you. But the Bible clearly states, “your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8.) Paul distinctly notes that we are in a battle and “so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs” (2 Cor 2:11.) Are you aware of the temptations and obstacles you currently face?
David faced many obstacles and temptations on his way to becoming king. For quite a bit of his journey the current king, King Saul was out to kill David. You could say that King Saul was David’s obstacle, and few times David’s companions tempted him to kill Saul. But David refused to take matters into his own hands and strike King Saul. ”But David said to Abishai, ‘Don’t destroy him [King Saul]! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless?’” (1 Sam 26:9.)
How David faced and overcame this obstacle of King Saul was of immense importance. Going God’s route by letting Him remove Saul, instead of David trying to remove Saul himself.
Let’s look at several other Biblical examples of how people faced obstacles to their callings.
In the time of Daniel there was an edict that no one pray to God or they would be fed to a den of lions. In similar manner, his friends were told to worship an idol or be burned in a furnace. In both of these instances, they stood strong in their relationship with God and faced the penalty of death (spoiler alert: God intervened on their behalves.) They were faithful to trust God in their current obstacles and temptations even when it meant their future dreams could be destroyed.
Another person who faced large obstacles was Joseph. He had a dream as a young man of his future leadership position but first faced slavery, false accusation, and imprisonment. He had no way of making his destiny happen, he just had to stay faithful day by day in the smaller assignments in slavery and prison.
Then we have Abraham who had a huge promise of fathering nations, yet he and his wife were barren. He attempted to help God in solving this obstacle by having Ishmael through his servant Hagar. God ended up sending that man-made solution away from Abraham.
A long series of posts or sermons could cover all the obstacles of faithful followers of God found in the Bible. Both the successes and failures.
How we overcome obstacles is foundational to our future success. How you overcome the obstacles of your current season, is many times just as important as you being faithful to your current assignment. Both are essential to in your journey into your destiny with God.
What are your obstacles? How are you addressing them?
