A repost of that one about Samuel…<3

Today I finished the book of 1 Samuel and I have to say it is one of my favorite portions of an annual Scripture read-through. I could sit and ponder the various dynamics and relationships of Samuels life for days on end.

Because I have done just that thing over the years, I am reposting one I wrote about God’s conversation with Samuel when He sent him to anoint David as King. I have gathered all those thoughts in the “Deep Healing” pdf that you may have gotten when you signed up for the blog, so if it sounds familiar that is why <3

Here is the section I want to share today as it still speaks to me about God’s timing for moving on:

How long is long enough?

Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn (to weep, lament, mourn, droop, sink down, languish) for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.”

1 Samuel 16: 1 and 2

We don’t know how long Samuel mourned.

The Bible doesn’t give us the exact length of time to grieve that God deemed to be enough.

It will be different for each of us, you know.

So don’t let someone tell you to get over it and move on.

Unless it’s God telling you.

Then…well… you should probably listen.

But only to Him.

Only in His timing.

Which is why grief and mourning are best handled in an outpouring and on-going way in His Presence through the process.

Because one day you will hear His voice.

Samuel did.

Now the LORD said to Samuel…”How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from ruling over Israel?

Fill your horn (with more anointing oil) and…

Go…

I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.”  1 Samuel 16:1

You know how I read that?

Ok, Laura…

How long are you going to sit here and go over everything that went wrong and all the things you think you have been robbed of?

How many new memories are you going to mar because you can’t get out of the shadow left by the sorrow the old ones bring?

How long are you going to let this grief rob you of today’s joys and tomorrow’s blessing?

How long?

Because I’m ready to move on.

I have a plan…I have not been undone by this and I need you to get on board.

I made you…I know you are broken…I am fixing you…I am in control.

It’s time…

Let’s go.

You can feel it in your bones when God speaks to you this way.

Suddenly you remember what it was to have hope.

Though the ground is still hard and bleak, you can feel again.

You cry maybe, but it’s not the tears of brokenness…it’s the sweet beginning of healing unfolding.

There’s a difference.

But it takes time.

Healing can be painful, but it is a pain that is birthing new life.

So take time.

Take time to grieve and mourn honestly and well so that when God asks…

Are you done? 

You can say, in faith…

Yes LORD…yes.

I am done and…

Yes, I am ready.

Where are going now and how will we do it?

Do not remember the past events, pay no attention to things of old. Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming.  Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43: 18-19