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Throughout this journey, we’ve seen lots of situations where David’s found himself up against a wall. But he wasn’t the only one to feel that way.
In this chapter, we get a glimpse of just how far Saul has fallen. He knows his enemies are preparing to attack—and like he’s done in the past, he goes to God for direction. But Saul isn’t coming to God with a heart positioned to honor or obey whatever he says. This time, he only wants God’s assistance.
Saul has fallen so far from the man of God he used to be. He’s disobedient and proud, refusing to ask for God’s correction, let alone accept it. Because of that, God doesn’t answer Saul this time. So, Saul takes matters into his own hands. Breaking a law he himself set, Saul consults a medium in an attempt to speak with the deceased prophet Samuel. The message Saul receives is sobering: you have turned from the Lord, and your destruction is near.
God sees our hearts—our motives, our fears, our resistance. It isn’t sinful to be afraid, or even to have doubts about where you think God might be leading you. Your attitude about your fears and hesitations is what matters most.
God can tell when you really want him versus when you only want his help. But if you come to God asking for courage, for help identifying your blind spots, or for trust in the unknowns, that’s when you really see his grace and power. As David later wrote in Psalm 51, “God will not reject a broken and repentant heart” (Psalm 51:17, NLT).
Your mindset can keep you stuck in a pattern of doubting God’s power—even minimizing it. But if you approach him with a willingness to turn away from those thoughts, and a genuine desire to see him work in your life (and your heart), that’s what makes the difference. No matter what you’ve believed about God, how much you’ve doubted him, or how much you’ve questioned his goodness in the past, you’re never too far gone. He’s ready for you whenever you are—but it’s on you to turn back to him.