God Calls Before We Fully Know
Devotions for Week 1: David: Finding Peace When We Are Overwhelmed: Every Thread Matters (WATCH HERE)
1 Samuel 16:8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”
12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.
Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”
In 1 Samuel 16 we watch a quiet and surprising moment unfold. Jesse presents his sons before Samuel, one by one. Each seems impressive in his own way. Yet the Lord repeatedly says no. God is not scanning resumes or measuring visible strength. He is looking at the heart. When David is finally called in from the fields, he is not dressed for ceremony or expecting a future crown. Still, the Lord speaks clearly and decisively. “Arise, anoint him, for this is the one.” God claimed David before he understands what that claim will cost or where it will lead.
This passage teaches us that God calls before the path is explained. David receives oil on his head long before he receives a throne. He will face years of obscurity, danger, and confusion. None of that is mentioned in the moment of anointing. God does not outline the steps. God establishes identity. David is chosen because God has set his love and purpose upon him. The calling rests on who David is in God’s sight, not on what David has yet to do.
In a similar way, a parent names a child before the child understands anything about the world. The name is spoken with hope and love. The child grows into it over time. The name does not depend on future achievements or failures. In the same way, David is named and claimed by God before he understands the journey ahead. The anointing comes first. The story follows.
Many of us wait for certainty before trusting God. We want clarity, security, and predictable results. David had none of these when oil ran down his head. He simply stood and received what God declared over him. Our baptism reminds us of the same reality. God claims us as beloved before we understand where he will lead us. Faith begins with receiving God’s word about us and then walking forward in faith one step at a time.
Reflect: What does it mean for you to be called and loved by God before you perform or prove anything? How might this truth bring peace or courage to a place of uncertainty in your life today?
Prayer: Faithful God, thank you for claiming us as your own before the road is clear. Help us trust your voice above our fears and walk forward in the identity you have given us. Teach us to rest in your faithful love. Amen.
Peace from Being Known!
Devotions for Week 1: David: Finding Peace When We Are Overwhelmed: Every Thread Matters (WATCH HERE)
2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”
The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”
4 Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”
5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Here he is! God’s anointed!”
7 But God told Samuel, “Looks aren’t everything. Don’t be impressed with his looks and stature. I’ve already eliminated him. God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart.”
Samuel hesitates when God sends him to Bethlehem. His fear is honest and practical. “If Saul hears about this, he will kill me.” Samuel is not resisting God out of rebellion, but out of concern for his own safety. God does not dismiss that fear. Instead, he gives Samuel clear instructions and a simple next step. “Take a heifer and say you have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Invite Jesse, and I will show you what to do.”
This moment reminds us that obedience rarely comes with full clarity. God does not explain the entire plan. He offers direction for the next faithful step. Peace begins to grow not when everything is explained, but when we trust that God sees what we cannot yet see.
When Samuel arrives in Bethlehem, the elders tremble. His presence alone creates anxiety. They ask, “Do you come in peace?” Samuel answers with words that quietly echo throughout this chapter. “Yes, in peace.” God’s work often enters anxious spaces quietly, not loudly. Samuel consecrates Jesse and his sons and invites them to the sacrifice. Everything appears ordinary. Yet beneath the surface, God is preparing to reveal a deeper truth.
When Eliab steps forward, Samuel is certain this must be the one. He looks like a king. He carries strength and presence. But God interrupts Samuel’s certainty with words that reframe how we understand worth and calling. “Do not consider his appearance or his height. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
This is where David’s story truly begins. Not with applause. Not with recognition. But with God’s intimate knowledge of who he is. Long before David is known by Israel, he is fully known by God. David would later reflect on this truth in Psalm 139, rejoicing that God knows when we sit and when we rise, that he understands our thoughts from afar, and that no word reaches our tongue before God knows it completely.
Peace comes not from being noticed, but from being known by God.
That truth stands in sharp contrast to the world we live in today. Visibility is often treated as value. Social media rewards attention, affirmation, and performance. It can quietly train us to believe that if no one notices, then nothing important is happening. Yet God’s kingdom works in the opposite direction. Value is not from visibility but by being known by God.
Reflect: Where are you tempted to measure your worth by appearances or approval? How does knowing God sees your heart change how you face today?
Prayer: God who sees, thank you for knowing us completely and loving us fully. When we are overwhelmed, help us rest in the truth that you know us fully and have plans for us, even when we don’t see them fully. AMEN.
New Year: A Future Filled with Hope!
Psalm 68:24–35
24 Your procession has come into view, O God,
the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary.
25 In front are the singers, after them the musicians;
with them are the maidens playing tambourines.
26 Praise God in the great congregation;
praise the LORD in the assembly of Israel.
27 There is the little tribe of Benjamin, leading them,
there the great throng of Judah’s princes,
and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.
28 Summon your power, O God;
show us your strength, O God, as you have done before.
29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem
kings will bring you gifts.
30 Rebuke the beast among the reeds,
the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations.
Humbled, may it bring bars of silver.
Scatter the nations who delight in war.
31 Envoys will come from Egypt;
Cush will submit herself to God.
32 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth,
sing praise to the Lord, Selah
33 to him who rides the ancient skies above,
who thunders with mighty voice.
34 Proclaim the power of God,
whose majesty is over Israel,
whose power is in the skies.
35 You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary;
the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.
Praise be to God!
What does the future hold? As the new year begins, it is natural to think about the future. We wonder what lies ahead, what challenges may come, what hopes might be fulfilled, and what uncertainties still linger. Psalm 68 ends by lifting our eyes beyond those questions. Instead of anxiety about tomorrow, it gives us a vision filled with praise and promise.
The final verses of Psalm 68 describe a joyful procession. Perhaps David is reflecting on the ark being brought to Jerusalem. God’s people are gathered, musicians and singers lead the way, and the community celebrates. This is not the image of a fearful people bracing for what comes next, but of a confident people rejoicing in who God is. Their hope is not rooted in predictions or plans, but in the presence of the living God who reigns among them.
At the center of this vision is God himself, enthroned in his sanctuary. He is not distant or disengaged. He is present, ruling with power and faithfulness. From this place of reign, God’s influence reaches far beyond Israel. The psalm looks outward and forward as the nations are drawn to acknowledge God’s power. Kings bring tribute, and the peoples of the earth are called to sing praises to the Lord.
Our future is not limited to what we can see or control. God’s purposes extend beyond our calendars and goals. While our plans may change, his kingdom continues to advance. While circumstances may shift, his reign remains secure.
The psalm ends with a beautiful promise: “The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people” (v. 35). God does not simply rule over his people; he blesses them. He strengthens them for the journey ahead. He gives what they need to live faithfully in the world he loves. His reign is not oppressive, but life-giving. His power brings peace.
As we step into 2026, this psalm invites us to anchor our hope in divine faithfulness rather than human achievement. Our confidence does not rest in how well we perform or how carefully we plan, but in the God whose praise will not fail. He continues to gather his people, draw the nations, and pour out strength on those who trust in him.
The future, then, is a space where God is already at work. We can move forward with joy, worship, and hope, confident that the God who has been faithful in the past will remain faithful in the days to come.
Prayer: Lord God, You reign in power and glory, and your faithfulness endures from generation to generation. As we look ahead, lift our eyes from worry and uncertainty and fix them on your kingdom. Strengthen us for the days ahead, gather us in worship, and fill our hearts with hope. May our lives reflect your presence and may we trust that our future rests securely in your hands. Amen.
New Year: The God of Victory Dwells with Us!
Psalm 68:11-23
11 The Lord announced the word,
and great was the company of those who proclaimed it:
12 “Kings and armies flee in haste; in the camps men divide the plunder.
13 Even while you sleep among the campfires,
the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver, its feathers with shining gold.”
14 When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land, it was like snow fallen on Zalmon.
15 The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains; rugged are the mountains of Bashan.
16 Why gaze in envy, O rugged mountains, at the mountain where God chooses to reign, where the LORD himself will dwell forever?
17 The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands;
the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.
18 When you ascended on high, you led captives in your train;
you received gifts from men, even from the rebellious—
that you, O LORD God, might dwell there.
19 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Selah
20 Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death.
21 Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies,
the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins.
22 The Lord says, “I will bring them from Bashan;
I will bring them from the depths of the sea,
23 that you may plunge your feet in the blood of your foes,
while the tongues of your dogs have their share.”
As a new year begins, we may feel a quiet tension. We are hopeful, but we are also realistic. We know there will be challenges ahead: responsibilities we didn’t choose, burdens we didn’t plan for, and resistance we cannot avoid. Psalm 68 speaks into that space with a powerful and comforting truth: the God who is victorious is also the God who stays close.
In Psalm 68:11–23, God is described in bold, triumphant language. He is a conquering king who scatters enemies and secures victory for his people. Messengers proclaim good news, kings flee, and God’s power is undeniable. Yet in the middle of this victory song comes one of the most tender lines in the psalm: “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens” (v. 19).
This is the heart of the passage. God’s victory is not distant or impersonal. It is not the triumph of a ruler who wins and then withdraws. Instead, it is the victory of a Savior who draws close enough to carry what weighs us down.
When we think about the months ahead, it is easy to focus on what we must overcome: difficult conversations, uncertain outcomes, ongoing struggles, or quiet fears. We do not face these realities on our own. The God who reigns over all things is also the God who bears our burdens day by day.
Notice the rhythm of that promise. God does not carry everything all at once so that we never feel strain again. He carries our burdens daily. Grace is given for today. Strength is supplied as needed. Faith is sustained one step at a time. This is not a promise of an easy year, but a promise of God’s faithful presence in every day of it.
When Paul quotes this Psalm in Ephesians 4:8, he reminds us the victorious Christ does not ascend in order to leave his people behind, but to give gifts—to equip, strengthen, and build up his church. His victory results in blessing. His power serves his love. His presence is new every day.
That same pattern shapes our trust as we begin another year. We trust that God will meet resistance we cannot avoid. We trust that God will carry burdens we cannot manage. And we trust that God’s victories, whether dramatic or quiet, are always aimed at mercy, not distance.
As you step into this year, you do not do so alone, and you do not do so in your own strength. God walks with you. He bears what you cannot. He guards what you cannot see. And he remains present, faithful, and near.
Prayer: Praise be to you, Lord, our Savior, who does not merely win battles, but stays with us and goes with us—today, tomorrow, and throughout the year. AMEN
A New Year: God Goes Before You!
A week into the New Year, you may be thinking not much has changed from 2025. The resolutions have faded. The issues of 2025 are still present in 2026. Excitement for the year ahead perhaps is weighed down by the baggage of the year past.
Psalm 68 is here for us as we enter the New Year.
It’s first reminder for you today is that God goes before you.
1 May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him.
2 As smoke is blown away by the wind, may you blow them away;
as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God.
3 But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.
King David, the author of this psalm, had many examples of the power and presence of God advancing in front of the armies of Israel. Enemies fell, not because the precision of David’s slingshot or the power of Israel’s army, but the power of the God who went before them.
As we enter the New Year, remember that the same God that went before David to defeat his enemies is the same God present with you to go before you.
Our year can be filled with uncertainty, but we have a God in motion before us. This is not wishful thinking, but the reality of our God. He loves to provide direction for his people and safety for their footsteps.
His power is paired with his presence and promises.
4 Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds—
his name is the LORD— and rejoice before him.
5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.
6 God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing;
but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
Relationships may be a challenge you are facing. God is not absent in the disfunction of human relationships. He invites us to find calm in his arms. He invites us to find peace in his presence. He rides above to guide us as we walk and live in this earth below.
David knew the history of the Lord. The path was not always easy. The journey not always clear. The victory didn’t always seem evident. But the Lord was walking with and before them. The Lord would not disappoint, the people would reach the safety of the promised land.
7 When you went out before your people, O God, when you marched through the wasteland, Selah
8 the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain,
before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.
9 You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance.
10 Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor.
The Lord hasn’t changed as we enter 2026. At the start of a new year, we are tempted to measure what we lack—energy, certainty, resources. Psalm 68 reminds us that the same God who went before his people then still goes before us now. The God who provided rain for weary land (v. 9) promises grace sufficient for what lies ahead.
So, before we ask what will happen this year, remember who walks ahead of us.
Prayer: Lord God, as you advanced to defeat all the enemies of your people, go before us in the year ahead to defeat all that stands against us and wrap us in the protection and peace of your presence as we walk confidently behind your lead. AMEN.