If a survey had been taken during the time of the Kings in Israel about who the favorite King was, I am certain that David would have topped that list. How could it be otherwise? When all the soldiers of Israel were trembling in fear at Goliath's intimidation, David bravely defeated the Philistine giant with simple, traditional weapons. He did this even while he was still too young to go to war. When David was officially a soldier and returned from battle, many women praised him even more than their own King. It is understandable, because David was indeed the King chosen by God, as recorded in 1 Chronicles 17:7, 'Now therefore, thus you shall say to My servant David, Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, that you should be ruler over My people Israel.'
Wow, ever since David was very young, he had already received God's promise. From a shepherd in the fields to the King over Israel. However, between the times David was a shepherd until he became King, he went through many uncomfortable things. One could even say that a large part of David's life was a time of trouble. Chased by his own father-in-law, fleeing to a foreign country and pretending to be insane, almost stoned by his own men, and so on. Even after becoming King, David was still hunted and nearly killed by his own son.
Learning from David's life, receiving God's promise is certainly a very joyful thing. But on the other hand, waiting for it is not as easy as it sounds. From the starting point of receiving His promise until that promise becomes reality, we must go through what is called the journey of life. With all its twists and turns, all its ups and downs, all the storms of problems and issues that accompany it, added to the burden and pressures of life that are so heavy, and so on. 'Wait a minute, wait a minute. Is God actually sincere in giving promises?'—that is a question that may often arise in our minds. Honestly, a very heavy journey of life can indeed make us doubt God's promise. Not a few are unable to endure it and then take shortcuts, abandoning true faith for a life they think is more beautiful.
Take, for example, the girl in the next village who left the Lord Jesus and embraced another religion because she married someone she thought could provide a happy life. Or what about the person in the village over there who was willing to 'transfer' their faith by reciting certain phrases to ensure their career success? 'All religions are the same,' they said. Or even, 'Never mind, no need for God-things, it's fine. After all, I have been waiting for God's promise for too long.'
Fam, I truly hope that not a single one of us has to go through a difficult life journey to reach the fulfillment of God's promise. But if that is what we must experience, allow me to quote and combine two messages from Habakkuk 2:3 and Hebrews 10:35-36: 'For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry... Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.'
Say 'Amen' with confidence if you are still willing to receive and wait for God's promise, my friend. May the Lord Jesus bless you.