In times of fatigue or confusion or weakness, it is not enough for me to simply “let go and let God” as some are fond of saying. When I’m hungry, it’s not enough to “trust God”. I must trust God…and eat. When I’m sick, it’s not enough to trust God. I must trust God…and take medicine.
It’s wasn’t enough for David to trust God, if he was to take the throne. He needed to trust God…and then have a team of warriors around him. On his own, David could slay Goliath, but he was no match for the Philistine army. He needed soldiers who would fight alongside of him. David was far from a loner, and in this he shows us another trait of a “person after God’s own heart”.
David was always on the lookout for strong, godly people to come alongside of him. Early on, his friendship with Jonathan, the son of Saul, was a comfort to his heart. Joab, the commander of his army, became a dear and trusted friend. Asaph was a partner in worship. Nathan the prophet was a man who was not afraid to confront David, and say, “You are the man” when David tried to hide his sin.
David was always on the lookout for strong, godly people to come alongside of him.
As I look at my own life, I see a veritable platoon of people God surrounded me with to help me grow. In overcoming anger, I brought along an older Christian as a mentor. In overcoming lust, I shared my struggles with a trusted few, and fed on the counsel of others who had been in the trenches like me. I read their books, and listened to their sermons. In finding healing for our marriage, Janis and I went to a wise counselor who sat with us for nearly two years.
In Psalm 16 David wrote: “As for the saints in the land, they are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
If you’re trying to go it alone, you’ll never be a mighty man or woman of God. Seek godly friends. Put yourself in the company of mentors. But then – and this is critical – you’ve got to remove your masks, tear down the walls you’ve built around your heart, confess your sins to these others, and knock off the smug, “I’ve got it all together” little smile that you wear. Only then can you be healed.
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