We all have different ways we deal with life’s up’s and down’s; the tragedies that seem to come into our lives like a tsunami unexpectedly. I can recall some of my own pitfalls, and plunders that have brought me to my knees in agony, and as I sit and write this, the pain, at times, feels just as vivid to me again. I thank God for bringing me through those times of uncertainty and doubt, and the thought of the past trials make me grateful ,all over again ,  for the process that has brought me to where I am right now.

In my despair  I remember reading ,rather combing the bible for answers, and landing in the book of  1st Samuel a place in the ,good book, where Samuel after a long life of serving the Lord ,as a judge over Israel ,comes to a request from the people in need of a king that would lead them so that, they may be like the other nations.  If you were like me when reading, yet again, about the disobedient ,stiff necked, people you were not surprised in regards to their response, but I was moved after reading the response of the Almighty God when he said this,

“Listen to all that  the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them, but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do.”

Ugh…my heart sank because for the first time ,in my life, I realized that God had emotions as well , and like me he ,too, can have His feelings hurt when he is put on the back burner. Wow, God wants to be chosen just like we do, and He is also sad if and when we do not. I could see ,oh so clearly, the fumbles and wrong decisions that the Israelites  were making; not to mention their disobedient ways, but how could I avoid doing the same thing in my life now? For how sobering to read that God was not only disappointed ,but he really wanted to be picked, and how He was overlooked again. I know many of you can relate to that feeling. Why don’t they like me? Why don’t they love me?  Why aren’t I good enough? Hmm, the dreaded why, why, why? I started to look at my life again…

I was in such a bad place, and needed help desperately but was also so raw and ,frankly, everything was painful to the touch even people that wanted to help.I guess in some ways so were the Israelites. I looked at the wrong choice of them picking Saul as a king, and then it dawned on me that I would need to choose God as my King and not jump to yet another relationship, or another job, or switch friends, or disown my family . No , not another cocktail nor hanging out at a club would make the diference, but in choosing God , he would be the difference; the different choice, and for the first time , in a long time,I would  have God as my King and not the other gods before Him.

So, my question to you is what are you substituting in your life?What is the thing you are putting before Him to solve your problems? Perhaps it is a job, spouse, addiction, maybe even the love of money, power or the need to always be right which has clouded your vision and is making you choose that as your king rather then God…

My advice to you all, that have ears to hear, is to watch what you replace God with when He so desperately wants to be there for YOU!  If you didn’t know it  yet let me inform you today that God wants to be your King…so , maybe it’s time to let Him!

DCL Ministries