In my daily Bible reading, David has just become king over all Israel. He has had a tough life thus far, but I know the end of the story. It only gets tougher. And a good portion of it is his own fault.
David is a liar, an adulterer, a murderer, and a horrible parent. Sometimes his specific actions don’t look much better than those of other kings. Yet he is remembered as being the “man after God’s own heart.” How in the world is that possible?
David was a mess. He made mistakes right and left. He hurt not only himself but others around him. But every step of the way, David was repentant. And that, my friends, is why he is so highly regarded in Scripture.
David truly loved God. He didn’t always obey God. But he always came back around to desperately craving a restoration of his relationship with the Lord. He knew when it was severed, and he knew how critical it was to have that tear mended.
This is why I love the story of David so much. You see, I’m a mess too. I say the wrong thing on a daily basis. I mess up in my marriage. I mess up with my kids. I mess up as a pastor’s wife or an employee. I want to be right and perfect, but my pride usually knocks me flat on my face instead. I lust after things of this world instead of after my Savior. I let my focus be pulled in a myriad of directions. I allow addictions to things other than Christ to dictate my life.
Yet through it all, there is one thing I know: I hunger for a solid relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I do not take it as an excuse to continue living as a mess as long as I repent afterward. I instead take it as a sign of hope – hope that even this messy life can point to the glory of my magnificent Savior!
Not Quite Ordinary 