The God who has plans for you

David spent a lot of time in caves hiding from Saul, so it’s not certain that these two psalms were written at exactly this time in David’s life, but it seems appropriate to put them here, just after David’s sparing of Saul’s life.

As I look at these two psalms, two verses strike me.

The first is Psalm 142:3

When my spirit grows faint within me,
it is you who know my way.

The second is Psalm 57:2

I cry out to God Most High,
to God, who fulfills {his purpose} for me.

There are times in our lives when things are hard. For David, it was hard because he was on the run for his life, even though he had done nothing wrong.

And it’s easy to wonder at such times, “Is God there? Does God care?”

But for David, the answer was clear.

He said, “Lord, even when my soul is troubled, and I’m feeling weak, you know my way. You know the path you have for me. And Lord, you will fulfill your purpose for me.”

I think it was because he knew these things that he could spare Saul’s life. He knew he didn’t have to take things into his own hands, because he trusted God had a plan for his life and would fulfill it.

Samuel anointed him and undoubtedly encouraged him when David ran to him for help.

Jonathan reconfirmed it, saying, “You, not I, will be the next king.”

And that’s what David held onto. The promises of God. The promise that God had a plan for his life, and that he would fulfill it.

What struggles are you going through? Are you being tempted to leave God’s path and do things your way instead of his because things are tough right now?

Remember that God has a plan for you. A good plan. And he will fulfill it in your life if you’ll just trust him.

As it says in Jeremiah 29:11,

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”