WHEN TROUBLE FOLLOWS SUCCESS
So Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.
1 Samuel 18:9
The verse above characterizes Saul after the many victories over the Philistines which he and David had accomplished under God. Verse 7 reads: “And the women sang as they were merry and said, ‘Saul has struck his thousands, and David his ten thousands.’” Saul’s anger and jealousy plagued David for years. But God was turning David’s losses into gains as He was preparing him to be the king of Israel.
I read about a 16-year-old girl who, in 1967, dove into a lake not knowing how shallow it really was and broke her neck. She became paralyzed from the neck down. Though she professed to be a Christian, she said that her faith was “shipwrecked.” She became numb emotionally, desperately alone, and very, very frightened. One of her friends was a teen by the name of Steve. He spoke of God’s sovereignty, His power and control. But Joni pushed back and said, “How can this be a demonstration of God’s love and power?” Steve opened his Bible to Acts 4:27-28 and asked Joni, “Whose will do you think the cross was?” That began a lengthy journey away from doubt and cynicism to faith and confidence in God. Maybe you’ve heard of or read the writings of Joni Eareckson (Tada). God turned Joni’s loss into great gain. He did the same with David, son of Jesse. God turned Adam’s loss into salvation. He turned Joseph’s loss into gain for the world. He turned Daniel’s loss into great blessings for Israel and the world. God specializes in turning losses into gain. Even death is gain. You cannot lose with God. Margaret Snell Nicholson suffered from 4 incurable diseases for 35 years as an invalid. She wrote this:
One-by-one He took them from me, all the things I valued most,
Until I was empty handed; every glittering toy was lost.
And I walked earth’s highways, grieving; in my rags and poverty.
Til I heard His voice inviting, “Lift your empty hands to Me!”
So I held my hands toward heaven, and He filled them with a store
Of His own transcendent riches, till they could contain no more.
And at last, I comprehended with my stupid mind and dull,
That God would not pour His riches into hands already full.
Ike Graham