Our scripture for the Daily Devotional today is taken from 2 Samuel 12: 15-23. King David understood something about God that we need to understand when we are facing great loss. David understood that God truly is sovereign and God knows best.
“After Nathan had gone home, the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. 16 David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth[b] on the ground. 17 The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them.
18 On the seventh day the child died. David’s attendants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, “While the child was still living, he wouldn’t listen to us when we spoke to him. How can we now tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate.”
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19 David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” he asked. “Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.” 20 Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.
21 His attendants asked him, “Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!” 22 He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ 23 But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
God’s answer may not be what you think it should be
- What do we do when we cry out to God but we do not receive the answers we’ve prayed for?
- What do we do when the loss is so great we feel like we cannot recover from it?
- What do we do when we lose someone we love so dearly?
David understood that when God makes a decision, it is for a good and right reason, even when we do not understand that decision.
We are tempted to be angry at God. We are tempted to think that God does not care, but he does. We are tempted to feel as though we are being punished by God. We are not. God is sovereign. What does that mean? It means that God has full rights and authority as Creator and Lord, to do whatever he chooses to do and in that, we can find the peace that whatever happens, God knows best.
Let’s Pray
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you that you are in control. Thank you that you know what is best even when I do not. Help me Lord to accept your decisions even when your answer is “NO.” Lord help me not to be angry, bitter or resentful. Help me to accept your decision knowing that you love me and are doing what is best.
In Jesus Name,
Amen