1 Samuel 13:11-12, New International Version

“What have you done?” asked Samuel. Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash, I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”

I have heard many people say that one of the hardest things that a human being must learn is patience. Being patient can often be the most difficult thing that we are called to do. When we are in the middle of a situation, and we know what we believe should be done, it can be so easy to take matters into our own hands and start doing something. And in some situations, when the Lord is leading you, it may be the correct approach. But all too often, we end up making a mess of things when we act without the Lord telling us to move.

Let’s consider the verse for today. Saul was the king of Israel and was facing a battle. He did not want to go into battle without making sacrifices to the Lord. But there was law at that time that sacrifices were only to be made by the Levite priests. This was a law that God had given to the people of Israel. Rather than wait for Samuel the priest to arrive and make the sacrifices, Saul chose to make the sacrifices himself. He violated the law of God because he chose to take matters into his own hands and do something that was right in his own eyes. In this situation for him, the end justifies the means. But the Lord is not looking for people who make decisions and take action, He is looking for people who obey. As a result of his actions, Saul was ultimately removed from his position as king, killed, and his line ended.

My wife and I are in a place in our lives in which there are some major changes right around the corner. There are decisions that need to be made and work that must be done to prepare for these changes. I have many times found myself struggling to remain patient. In my mind I know that I could make a call to this person or that organization and start to get some needed answers and directions. I could start to push things forward using my own initiative and experience. But though it may help to make me feel better in the moment, I know that the outcome will never equal what the Lord has in store if I am patient.

Though I pray that there are those who may read this and be touched, I am also writing this to speak to myself. We must never try to head out in front of the Lord when it comes to our calling and the work that He has placed in front of us. At the same time, we must allow ourselves to fall behind. We should seek to do His will in each situation and in every moment that we have been blessed with. I pray that whatever you may be facing today, that you will wait upon the Lord and His leading and when you receive it, take action!