Have you ever wondered what would have happened if David had used Saul’s armor (see 1 Sam. 17:38-39)? What if David had tried to copy Israel’s champion, King Saul? If he had put on Saul’s armor and gone out to fight, he probably wouldn’t have been successful because his confidence would have been in the armor. Instead, David trusted God’s sovereignty and providence in his life, choosing to fight the way God had uniquely gifted him.
This reality hits home for most of us. While seeking to make an impact in our neighborhoods, we often go to conferences, read books, and try to mimic our evangelical-Christian champions. We look at great leaders and try to figure out what makes them successful so that we can copy their methods. But is this how God accomplishes His will “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:11)? Is this the process God is calling us to as He sends us out as sheep among wolves (see Matt. 10:16)? No, it’s not. God is writing a unique story in your life. And while biblical principles will hold true throughout all time, the application of these principles will vary with each person and each context.
Dr. Hannah, one of my professors in seminary, used to say, “If God calls you to be a farmer, don’t stoop so low as to become a king.” The question we have to ask ourselves is, What’s my part in God’s story? By seeking the answer to that question, we have the opportunity to discover God’s unique providence in our lives.
To discover our part in God’s story, we first have to do the work that’s necessary to understand God’s story—redemption that brings reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ. We must also be intimately familiar with the details of our stories and God’s providence in our lives, for these are the experiences that form the burdens and passions in our hearts. If we don’t understand our personal stories, we’re in danger of being like David when he tried to wear Saul’s armor. Or like auto-racing drivers, we become a billboard for everyone else’s brand and lose God’s unique fingerprint in our lives. This is why we must be students of our lives and experiences. Understanding our own stories is part of recognizing God’s providence in our lives.
My Beginning. My Forever. 