Saturday, April 17
Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he come here.” He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.”
—1 Samuel 16: 11-12
It doesn’t take much for us to feel that we don’t measure up. Bullying comments made to us when we were young, insults people have hurled on us as adults, advertisers focusing on what’s missing, the media trying to create new sensations, loved ones speaking to us in anger—all these and more diminish our sense of self.
We’re routinely reminded of those who are more beautiful, more capable, more accomplished, more desirable than we are. Yet all of us were shaped and formed by heaven’s hand. All of us were made in the image of the Holy One. All of us have a heart made for the giving and receiving of love.
When God looks on us, God sees that image—that heart, not our imperfections or our unworthiness. God’s eye is cast on the center of our being where we are fragile and strong, where we are vulnerable and pure, where we are fearful and hopeful. From that silent and deep place we have the capacity to tap at the edges of our work and lend our own self to its transformation.
David was the youngest. He just tended the sheep. Nothing to recommend him except that he was handsome and had pretty eyes. His father didn’t even think him important enough to be asked to attend the meeting with the visiting prophet. Yet, he was the one. He was the one whose hidden heart was ready for the task God had at hand.
We need never worry that we don’t measure up. We can walk with assurance before God, because we too, are “the one.” Not because we’re better than anyone else, but because God has peered lovingly into our heart and seen there what we are made for.
Gracious God, let the glance of your eye on the hidden-ness of my heart be the fire that sets my heart ablaze.
These Signposts originally appeared on explorefaith in 2008.
