Ordinary Circumstances

Verse of the day: 1 Samuel 9:3-4, Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. And Kish said to his son Saul, “Please take one of the servants with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys.” 4 So he passed through the mountains of Ephraim and through the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them.

How sensitive are we to God’s leading in our lives? Do we overlook the fact that God can use ordinary, and even frustrating, circumstances in our lives to lead us down the path He has set for us? Here is a seemingly ordinary task that Saul was sent on with his father’s servant. Find a few lost donkeys. The journey ended up being a frustrating one, as they were not able to find them right away. Three times, and in three different locations, we are told that the donkeys were not found. In verse 5, when it seemed hopeless that they would find the lost animals, Saul decided it was time to head back home before his father began to worry about them more than the donkeys. So far, this is just an ordinary task, under ordinary circumstances. However, it “just happened” that the particular servant that was with Saul suggested that they go see Samuel, a man of God, who “just happened” to be in the same place these circumstances led them to (v. 6). Are we getting the sense yet that these ordinary circumstances are not ordinary, but being used supernaturally to lead Saul on the path to becoming the first king of Israel? Keep in mind that Saul is absolutely clueless that he is already the man that has been chosen for this position. Yet, he goes along, most likely frustrated that he cannot find these “dumb animals”. By the way, these “dumb animals” were wise enough to obey God in playing their role in drawing Saul to Samuel. If only we, as born again believers, who claim to love and follow Jesus, were as wise and obedient as these donkeys. Nonetheless, we see that what probably started out as just another ordinary day for Saul, will turn into quite the extraordinary day. Have we started our day today as just another ordinary day? Do we take the time to prayerful live out our day, seeking what God’s plan is for our life today? Have we already set our day in stone with no wiggle room for God to move us where He wants to move us, and work in us those things He wants to accomplish in us and through us? Do we get easily frustrated when things do not seem to work out the way we want them to, totally dismissing the fact that God may be leading us in a different direction in order for us to accomplish His will and not our own? We often miss great opportunities because we dismiss the ordinary circumstances in our lives. We fail to look for God’s activity in the ordinary because we get up in the morning without giving ourselves enough time to spend time in prayer and reading God’s Word. We throw up some one minute prayer and tell ourselves that we will read our Bibles later, only to find that the day, and our plans (not to mention the time we waste on things that have no spiritual value), rob us of the time we intended to use to read God’s Word. After a while, many of us become frustrated with life, and falsely come to the conclusion that God has better things to do than use us for His glory. My brothers and sisters, may I say this one thing? We could accomplish so much more for the Kingdom if we were willing to start our day a little earlier, and put more effort toward spending more time in prayer and the study of God’s Word. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, we are told to “pray without ceasing”. 2 Timothy 2:15 admonishes, “Study to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” God’s Word is alive because it is God-breathed. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Because this is true, God’s Word is the best guide we have in reminding us that ordinary circumstances are sometimes extraordinary. The Holy Spirit, using the Word of God, will guide us throughout our “ordinary” days, to bring us right to where God wants us on any given day or time. Psalm 119:105 reminds us, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” As God’s children, every day can be an extraordinary day, if we would just take the time to seek Him, even in the most ordinary of circumstances. Even if the plan for today is to tell someone about Jesus, an ordinary encounter could change the eternal future of one person, and that is nothing but extraordinary and supernatural.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).