APRIL 30, 2025

 

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.”  

~ Abraham Lincoln

2 SAMUEL 24

17When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he said to the Lord, “I have sinned; I, the shepherd,^c have done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let your hand fall on me and my family.”

LUKE 22:46-53

 47While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”49When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.51But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.52Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”

JOURNAL

As David approached the end of his life, he continued to demonstrate a profound, though imperfect, heart of submission to God. When confronted with the consequences of his sins—whether it was the aftermath of his affair with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:13) or the later census of Israel (2 Samuel 24:10-14)—David did not excuse himself or blame others. Instead, he consistently accepted full responsibility and surrendered to God's authority. David was far from perfect; his life was marked by profound failures. Yet what distinguished him was not a flawless record but a tender, repentant heart that always found its way back to God. As Scripture attests, he was "a man after God's own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22), not because of sinlessness, but because of his persistent humility and willingness to yield.

In striking contrast yet perfect complement, Jesus, the true and greater King, faced His own pivotal moment of surrender in the Garden of Gethsemane. Having already wrestled in prayer and found strength from the Father (Luke 22:43), Jesus was unswerving in His resolve. When the crowd came armed with swords and clubs, led by Judas, Jesus did not resist. His surrender was not one of weakness but of divine strength and purpose. In quick succession, He confronted Judas with piercing clarity ("Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" — Luke 22:48), healed the ear of the high priest's servant after Peter lashed out in fear (Luke 22:50-51), and rebuked the crowd for treating Him like a criminal (Luke 22:52-53).

In that brief, chaotic moment, the full brilliance of Christ was on display—His mixture of courage, compassion, humility, and divine authority. He stood firm not because He lacked the power to overthrow His enemies, but because He chose to walk the path of obedience and love. As Jesus had declared earlier, "No one takes my life from me, but I lay it down of my own accord" (John 10:18, ESV).

And here is the staggering truth: the same Spirit that strengthened Christ, the same love and power that upheld Him in His hour of trial, is alive within me. Scripture assures us, "The Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you" (Romans 8:11, ESV). In accepting God's love and grace, I am empowered not by my own might, but by the living Spirit of God. Because of this, I have no excuse. I am called—not to perform superhuman feats or to achieve perfection—but simply to trust His love, surrender daily, and offer my very best in response.

Yet every time I give in to fear, it is because I have ceased believing God's promises. I take my eyes off His faithful love, just as Peter did when he stepped out onto the water. At first, Peter walked by faith, fixing his gaze on Jesus. But when he "saw the wind," fear overtook him, and he began to sink (Matthew 14:30). The pattern is the same in my own life: when I lose sight of who God is—His sufficiency, His nearness—I begin to falter. Not because God's power has changed, but because my trust has wavered.

True strength, like David's repentance and Christ’s resolute love, comes from relentless trust in God's character. It is living each moment with surrendered faith, not ruled by the shifting winds of circumstance, but anchored in the unchanging heart of God.

He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. 

2 CORINTHIANS 13:3-4

APRIL 29, 2025

   God, give us grace to accept with serenity

the things that cannot be changed,

Courage to change the things

which should be changed,

and the Wisdom to distinguish

the one from the other.

Living one day at a time,

Enjoying one moment at a time,

Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,

Taking, as Jesus did,

This sinful world as it is,

Not as I would have it,

Trusting that You will make all things right,

If I surrender to Your will,

So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,

And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.

- Reinhold Niebuhr

2 SAMUEL 21-22

31“As for God, his way is perfect:

The Lord’s word is flawless;

he shields all who take refuge in him.

32For who is God besides the Lord?

And who is the Rock except our God?

33It is God who arms me with strength^h

and keeps my way secure.

34He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;

he causes me to stand on the heights.

35He trains my hands for battle;

my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

36You make your saving help my shield;

your help has madeⁱ me great.

37You provide a broad path for my feet,

so that my ankles do not give way.(22:31-37)

LUKE 22:39-46

39Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.^c

45When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46“Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

JOURNAL 

As David neared the end of his life, his thoughts were not consumed with the battles he had won or the throne he had occupied. Instead, his focus sharpened on one thing: faithfulness to God. In his final charge to Solomon, David urged him, "Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways..." (1 Kings 2:2-3, ESV). For David, greatness was never about titles, acclaim, or earthly power. Greatness was about obedience—a daily choice to trust and serve God wholeheartedly, whether in triumph or failure.

Centuries later, Jesus embodied that same heart of greatness. On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus faced the greatest test of obedience the world has ever known. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He cried out to the Father, asking if there might be another way (Matthew 26:39). Though He knew the outcome—the resurrection, the redemption of humanity, the coming missionary movements that would sweep across the globe—none of it had yet come to pass. His disciples, the very ones He had poured His life into, were sleeping, unaware of the weight He carried (Mark 14:37-38).

In that dark, lonely garden, greatness was not seen in might or miracles. It was revealed in anguished prayer and complete surrender: "Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done" (Luke 22:42, ESV).

At that moment, Jesus saw not just the faces of His followers, but the brokenness of all humanity. He saw our rebellion, our selfishness, our woundedness and rage—and He chose love. Rather than destroy us, He laid Himself down to save us (Romans 5:8).

This is true greatness:

• It is not content to rest in yesterday’s victories.

• It is not paralyzed by today’s failures.

• It is not built on titles or acclaim.

• It is born in quiet trust, obedience, and sacrificial love.

Both David and Jesus show us that the measure of a life well lived is not success as the world defines it, but faithfulness in the unseen, painful, difficult moments.

Today, whether you stand on a mountaintop or walk through a dark valley, greatness is found not in your circumstances but in your surrender. Trust God in the moment you are given. Choose love over fear. That is the path of true greatness.

13You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh^a ; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^b

GALATIANS 5:13-14

APRIL 28, 2025

 

“The proud person always wants to do the right thing, the great thing. But because he wants to do it in his own strength, he is fighting not with man, but with God.” 
― Søren Kierkegaard

2 SAMUEL 19-22

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

3my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,

my shield^a and the horn^b of my salvation...

31“As for God, his way is perfect:

The Lord’s word is flawless;

he shields all who take refuge in him.

32For who is God besides the Lord?

And who is the Rock except our God?

33It is God who arms me with strength^h

and keeps my way secure...

50Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;

I will sing the praises of your name. 

LUKE 22:1-38 

24A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

31“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 

JOURNAL

Once again, David stands as a profound example of humility. In all things, he directs glory and credit back to God. This isn't some shallow platitude or a display of false humility; it is the genuine response of a heart that knows where all goodness ultimately comes from. David consistently acknowledges that it is God—not himself—who deserves the honor (2 Samuel 7:18–22; Psalm 18:1–3). This, I believe, is part of the enduring beauty of David’s story: no matter his failures, no matter how far he falls, David always returns to that childlike love and wonder for God (Matthew 18:3).

In contrast, at this pivotal moment in the Gospels, we find the disciples on the very brink of catastrophe. Their world is about to be completely upended—Jesus will soon be arrested, crucified, and buried—and yet, here they are, arguing among themselves about who is the greatest (Luke 22:24–27). It’s heartbreaking and, honestly, very human. Even Peter, often overconfident and quick to speak, is singled out. Jesus warns him that he will deny Him three times before the rooster crows (Luke 22:31–34). Peter, despite his boldness, must learn the painful lesson that strength is not found in self-confidence, but in dependence on God.

And isn't that so often the way we are? Instead of recognizing and rejoicing in the blessings right in front of us, we get tangled up in tomorrow’s worries or lost in yesterday’s regrets (Matthew 6:34; Philippians 3:13–14). We try to justify ourselves, arrange our futures, and protect our egos—missing the invitation to simply live fully and faithfully today.

I can’t help but be struck by this scene: the single greatest moment in human history—the moment that will change the destiny of the entire world forever—is unfolding, and the disciples are squabbling like children. It’s easy to judge them, but honestly, I miss these kinds of moments too. Knowing the end of the biblical story sometimes dulls my sensitivity to the rawness of the moments. And similarly, in my own life, I often miss the miracle of today because I’m too busy worrying about tomorrow or stewing over the past. Yet Jesus calls us into the present—to see, to savor, and to trust Him with everything we cannot control.

18Pride goes before destruction,

a haughty spirit before a fall.

 Proverbs 16:18

APRIL 27, 2025

  “Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God.” 

― Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

2 SAMUEL 17-18

31Then the Cushite arrived and said, “My lord the king, hear the good news! The Lord has vindicated you today by delivering you from the hand of all who rose up against you.”

32The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”

The Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up to harm you be like that young man.”

33The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!”^g(18:31-33)

LUKE 21:1-19

10Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

12“But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13And so you will bear testimony to me. 14But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17Everyone will hate you because of me. 18But not a hair of your head will perish. 19Stand firm, and you will win life.

JOURNAL 

David’s love for his son Absalom is one of the most heart-wrenching demonstrations of parental devotion recorded in Scripture. Despite Absalom’s rebellion—his betrayal, his plots, and even his intent to kill his own father—David’s love remains steadfast. After Absalom’s death, David mourns with profound grief, crying out, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you” (2 Samuel 18:33, NIV). This is not the reaction of a king toward a traitor; it is the brokenhearted cry of a father who loved unconditionally.

David’s mourning offers us a glimpse into the much greater love of Jesus Christ. While David could only wish he had given his life for Absalom, Jesus actually did give His life for us. As Paul writes, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8, NIV). The self-sacrificial love David displays points forward to the perfect fulfillment of love at the cross.

Similarly, Jesus prepares His disciples for the suffering they will endure, yet He does not leave them hopeless. In Luke 21:19, He tells them, “Stand firm, and you will win life.” It is a simple yet profound encouragement: perseverance rooted in faith will lead to ultimate victory. So much of life is captured in that call—to keep showing up, standing firm in who we are in Christ, and remaining unwavering in what we believe (1 Corinthians 15:58).

These two images—David’s love for Absalom and Christ’s assurance to His disciples—embody the central hope of the gospel. No matter our failures, our successes, or our circumstances, God’s love for us remains unchanged. His love is not conditioned by performance, achievement, suffering, or triumph. As Paul reminds us, “Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38–39, NIV).

Embracing this truth frees us to live each day with courage and confidence. Knowing that in Christ we ultimately cannot lose reframes how we approach even the smallest moments. Every action, every word, every task becomes an opportunity to bring the love and power of God into the world (Colossians 3:23–24). Success is not measured by worldly standards, but by our faithfulness in making each moment a masterpiece for God’s glory. In doing so, we experience His joy, reflect His presence, and participate in His eternal story.

 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

JOHN 10:10

APRIL 26, 2025

 “Do not let arrogance go to your head and despair to your heart; do not let compliments go to your head and criticisms to your heart; do not let success go to your head and failure to your heart.” 

― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

2 SAMUEL 15-16

11David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. 12It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.”

13So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei was going along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt. 14The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.(16:11-14)

LUKE 20:27-47

45While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 46“Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 47They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

JOURNAL 

In one of the more tragic episodes of David's life, we find the great king forced to flee his kingdom, driven out by his own son, Absalom (2 Samuel 15). As if this humiliation were not enough, David is further disgraced by Shimei, who curses and throws stones at him along the road (2 Samuel 16:5–13). It is a heartbreaking and almost unbearable scene—one that speaks to the vulnerability even the greatest leaders can face.

Yet David's response is striking. He accepts this humiliation, not out of weakness, but in profound surrender to God. He trusts that God is ultimately in control, whether to vindicate him or to humble him further (2 Samuel 16:10–12). In time, God does restore David to the throne, but this moment stands as a powerful reminder that none of us are immune to embarrassment, betrayal, failure, or deeply humbling circumstances, no matter our status or strength.

Jesus later echoes this very principle when He warns His disciples against pride and self-exaltation. In Luke 20:45–47, He cautions that those who love to be honored and elevated will ultimately be brought low. True greatness in the Kingdom of God is marked not by outward status but by humility and dependence on the Father.

Christ Himself modeled this perfectly. The most powerful and sinless man who ever lived—the very Son of God—endured mocking, ridicule, brutal humiliation, and crucifixion (Philippians 2:5–8; Hebrews 12:2). He submitted fully to the will of His Father, choosing obedience and suffering so that He could open the path of redemption for us all (John 10:17–18).

Reflecting on David’s trials and Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice brings profound perspective. The discomforts and hardships I face, while real, are often trivial in light of eternity. My life, brief as it is—a mere "mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14)—has been deeply valued by Christ, who died that I might live. It humbles me to remember that this life is not about grasping for position or clinging to pride, but about surrendering daily to the One who gives true and abundant life (John 10:10).

1Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
PHILIPPIANS 2:1-4

APRIL 25, 2025

  “The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.” 

― Fyodor Dostoevsky

2 SAMUEL 13-14

13The woman said, “Why then have you devised a thing like this against the people of God? When the king says this, does he not convict himself, for the king has not brought back his banished son? 14Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But that is not what God desires; rather, he devises ways so that a banished person does not remain banished from him.(14:13-14)

LUKE 20:1-26

9He went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. 10At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. 12He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.

13“Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’

14“But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. ‘This is the heir,’ they said. ‘Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 15So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

“What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.”

When the people heard this, they said, “God forbid!”

17Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written:

“ ‘The stone the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone’^a ?

18Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”

19The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.

JOURNAL 

David is grappling with the banishment of his son, Absalom, after Absalom kills his brother, Amnon. The kingdom is filled with heartbreak and betrayal, and it is painful to watch everything unravel. However, this tragedy can be traced back to David’s sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:1-27). David made serious mistakes as a leader, and as a result, he brought a spirit of selfishness into his family and his kingdom. While God forgave David (2 Samuel 12:13), the consequences of his actions would still affect him and his kingdom. The spirit of selfishness he introduced would have lasting repercussions.

In the same way, Jesus addresses this destructive spirit in His parable to the Pharisees. Their pride and arrogance blinded them to the truth. Despite all their searching and waiting, they failed to recognize that Jesus was the Messiah, the answer to their prayers for redemption, joy, and peace. They couldn’t see that He was the path they had been longing for (Matthew 23:37-39).

I believe this all comes down to the underlying motive behind our actions. What drives us? Is it for good or for evil? As believers, our motive should be rooted in goodness. It must drive us to serve others and give our best for the collective good, for the kingdom of God. Our motive should urge us to act assertively—not to seek glory or honor for ourselves but for the benefit of the community. We are all part of some team, whether it’s a family, a community, a country, or even the world. As members of a team, we are connected to everything and everyone around us (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).

We are important, and each of us has a role to play. In fulfilling that role, we are called to give our very best, every day and every moment. This is our greatest challenge: to give our best and to fight against the temptation to procrastinate, avoid, lie, deceive, or give in to hatred. The present moment is where the battle takes place—it’s where the war is fought for our souls and the allegiance of our hearts. If we fight our daily battles and give our best for the team, God promises that we will experience true joy—peace, hope, and contentment (Philippians 4:6-7).

However, our enemy, shame and fear, will try to tempt us. When we surrender to these emotions, we begin to question the present, wishing it were different, longing for more or less, or wishing things had gone another way. We risk losing our joy, our hope, and our gratitude. This despair can lead us to seek anything to numb the pain, to try to change the past, or to fear the future. We lose sight of the one thing we can control—the present. This temptation to turn away from the present was the same that led Adam and Eve to disobey God (Genesis 3:6). It was the same force that drove David to commit adultery with Bathsheba and have Uriah killed (2 Samuel 11:1-27). It was the evil that tempted Judas to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16) and caused Peter to deny Him (Matthew 26:69-75).

Jesus, however, walked a different path. He lived a perfect life, paving the way for us to enter the kingdom of God. Through His sacrifice, He made us part of His team (John 14:6). He gave us a purpose and a role to play, and He sent His Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us along the way (John 14:16-17). By following Jesus, we can live out our purpose with integrity, and He promises that, in doing so, we will experience peace and true joy (John 15:10-11).

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Philippians 1:2-4

APRIL 24, 2025

 “God desires to reveal His heart to us and to build His heart into us as we seek His face.” 

― Bill Mills, Adequate: How God Empowers Ordinary People to Serve

2 SAMUEL 10-12

11The Lord sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, “There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. 2The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, 3but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.

4“Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.”

5David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! 6He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.”

7Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. 9Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. (12:1-9)

LUKE 19:29-48

41As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

Jesus at the Temple

45When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling. 46“It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be a house of prayer’^c ; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’^d ”

47Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. 48Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

JOURNAL 

As humans, we are often blinded by our fears and our pride. I still struggle to understand how David, a man after God’s own heart, could fall so far, so quickly. The answer, however, may lie in the fact that when we cease to rely on God, we open ourselves to the possibility of falling prey to sin in ways we never imagined. What’s particularly troubling about David’s downfall is that he didn’t seem to turn away from God in the traditional sense; rather, he stopped seeking and depending on God as he had before. This shift allowed him to misuse his power, leading him to commit grave sins: he orchestrated the breaking up of a marriage and even had one of his own men murdered (2 Samuel 11:1-27).

What’s especially noteworthy is that David’s sin began as a result of boredom. While his army was out at battle, David stayed home, perhaps feeling a sense of complacency and self-satisfaction. From the roof of his palace, he admired his kingdom, and in that moment, he saw Bathsheba. Despite having many wives and concubines, he became consumed with greed and lust, desiring what was forbidden. This temptation to take something that didn’t belong to him—something that was off-limits—echoes the same primal desire for what is forbidden that we see from the beginning of the Bible, in the story of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:6).

This pattern is what I believe Jesus refers to when He says, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace” (Luke 19:42). We often think that success, riches, or leisure will bring us peace, but as David’s story shows, these things do not satisfy the soul. In fact, they can even lead us astray. In my own life, I’ve found that it is during times of struggle and when I am actively working through problems that I truly experience the most profound joy. While vacations or periods of rest can provide peace and relaxation, they don’t necessarily contribute to spiritual growth. Those moments of rest don’t stand out as times of deep revelation or significant transformation.

True peace with God is found in seeking Him, and this often happens most deeply when we are faced with challenges that take us beyond our own wisdom. When I find myself in situations where I must rely on God for guidance, when I’m struggling to understand or resolve something, that is when I experience a deeper connection with Him. As Paul writes in Philippians 4:6-7, peace comes not from our circumstances, but from God’s presence, “which transcends all understanding.” This peace guards our hearts and minds when we seek Him, especially in our struggles.

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. 

PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9