1 Samuel 16:1 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

Samuel had a special relationship with Saul. He personally anointed him. He prayed for him and guided him. He hoped that Saul would be a king who honoured the Lord. It was hard for Samuel to see Saul choose to do his own thing and let his calling fall to pieces.

It was hard for Samuel and he probably felt in a way that he was also involved in this. Couldn’t he have done something more or better to help Saul not make wrong choices? That’s why Samuel’s heart was heavy and he experienced it as the end of the road.

But for God it is never the end of the road. God came and drew a line in the sand, wiped away Samuel’s tears and told him to leave the things of the past right there, in the past. There was a new plan. God had one of Jesse’s sons in mind.

I’m glad to see that Samuel was also just an ordinary person. When plans don’t work out, our minds get caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. Then we don’t know which way to turn and we just want to crawl into a corner and feel sorry for ourselves.

Often, when our plans disappearlike mist before the sun and don’t work out as we had hoped and even prayed for, we feel like it’s the end of the road. Then our hope is shattered and with it our minds.

But here we must learn with Samuel, the great prophet of God. We must learn that where we see an end, God sees a beginning. Where we think everything is in shambles, God sees a place to roll out a new plan.

When we have an intimate relationship with God, the transition between endings and new beginnings becomes much easier, because we’ll know what God is doing and find peace. Let’s put our trust in God and trust Him to start new things in our lives again.

Prayer
Father, it’s not always easy for me when I face things that don’t work out, but I believe You will make it new …

Questions
Am I still holding on to something from the past that God wants to release?
Can I believe that God has new plans, even when I am disappointed?
Where do I currently see only an end, while God may be busy with a new beginning?

Do this now
Today, remember one disappointment or plan that didn’t work out.
Write it down and pray about it. Tell God that you’re leaving it in His hands.
Then do one small practical thing that shows you believe a new beginning is still possible, even if it’s just calling someone again, opening a new door, or starting to dream again.