Today’s Reading, 2 Samuel 19-21
Focal Scripture: 2 Samuel 21:15 “The Philistines again waged war against Israel. David went down with his soldiers, and they fought the Philistines, but David became exhausted.”
To be successful in life, you have to know your limitations. For instance, I can do several things really well, but I struggle with spatial and mechanical aspects. An example would be that it is very difficult for me to visualize how to fix something that requires hands-on work. As an example, I have been on several trips that were specifically orchestrated to fix and build homes. I was limited in the work I could do because I could not visualize or understand the technical aspects of some of the work. I have learned over the years that I can’t be good at everything. I have to know my limitations and trust people who are better at skills than I am. This is difficult for me, but a skill that has proven to be useful.
In today’s reading, we see that the Philistines are at war against the Israelites again. David, being the great king that he is, goes to battle with his people. He is not like some rulers who sit back and let others do the heavy lifting. David desires to be involved and truly lead his people into war and into victory. Unfortunately, for David, he is getting older and is now exhausted by leading the way he used to lead the people. David has found his physical limitations.
Today is all about knowing our limitations. I am not saying that we should not stretch ourselves or push to get better at things that are difficult. What I am saying is that we can’t do everything well, and we don’t need to put ourselves in a situation that hurts ourselves or others. David knew that his age and health would either get him killed or one of his men. Neither choice was a good decision.
I challenge you today to examine what you are good at and what you struggle with in your life. If you are not a great cook, you don’t need to cook for a serious event. If you struggle with speaking in front of others, you don’t need to become a teacher. If you struggle with spatial relationships, don’t become a home builder.
The point of today’s devotion is to know yourself. Lean into what you are good at and become even better at those skills. Don’t do things because you are hard-headed that can hurt yourself or others. Knowing your limitations is not a weakness but a sign of good leadership.
Never settle for being bad at something. Get better and grow, especially in your faith. Don’t make excuses; instead, find solutions. Turn your limitations into growth opportunities.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Psalms 5, 38, 41, 42
