The Lord says:
"If you are in a state of confusion or chaos at the moment, seek Me and you will find Me. For I am not a God of confusion or chaos. I will show you the way forward. I will show you the clear path ahead. Things will become clearer and clearer, as you seek Me and look to Me. Let go of whatever past that holds you back, and get hold of Me. You will begin to see clearer and clearer along the way. You will begin to see and understand how I see and what I see for your life and your future."
This applies whether in your career, in the ministry, in your business, or in any area of your life. So, take heart, beloved, if you have many "questions" about your life that are unanswered at the moment, or if you don't know what to do or how to go about in your life, at this juncture of your life.
Just look at David when he ended up in the cave of Adullam. It was a chaotic situation prior to that. And he even had to pretend madness.
Look here at 1 Samuel 21:10-12. That was the time when David was being "hunted" or pursued relentlessly by King Saul who was jealous of him. 'Then David arose and fled that day from before Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said to him, "Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of him to one another in dances, saying: 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?" Now David took these words to heart, and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath.'
So, what did David do? 1 Samuel 21:13-14 says, 'So David changed his behavior before them, pretended madness in their hands, scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva fall down on his beard. Then Achish said to his servants, "Look, you see that man is insane. Why have you brought him to me?"'
King Achish obviously didn't think that was the David the servants were talking about. Now, you might say, "What happened?" That was a far cry from the time when he slain the ten thousands!
Or maybe in your situation, you too may be asking, "What happened to the dreams and prophecies regarding myself and my future?"
Maybe you are struggling with life at the moment. Maybe you are in a state of confusion at the moment. Maybe you do not know what to do anymore, going forward. Now, that was probably how David felt at that time as well. You see, you are not alone.
If you rewind back to 1 Samuel 16, just about five chapters back, David was at that time anointed to be king by prophet Samuel, and supposedly having a great destiny and future. He was the rising star in his land, so to speak. But what happened now? Has God forgotten His promises and words to David? This was likely in David's mind at that time when he pretended madness. He must be wondering how did he reach such a low point in his life? Wasn't his destiny supposed to be great? Wasn't his destiny was to be king, as spoken by prophet Samuel? It's like the whole world came crashing down on David. He was running for his life. He was escaping from King Saul. He even had to pretend madness, just to conceal his identity!
See what happened next. 1 Samuel 22:1 says, 'David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him.' Now, 'cave' here speaks of 'darkness, fear, out in the cold'. Indeed, it was a 'cave' experience for David at that time. He was fleeing from King Saul, and he had nowhere to go. So he hid in the cave.
Maybe you too are feeling the same at the moment regarding your career, your ministry, or in any area of your life. Maybe you don't know what to do and how to go about at this juncture anymore. Maybe you are at a 'crossroad' and you don't know which way to go. Maybe you don't see much hope in your future.
1 Samuel 22:2 says, 'And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to David.' In other words, the outcasts, the overlooked, and the misfits in the society at that time. And some of them were there with David. These were the people bitter in their souls. The broken people.
Instead of being surrounded by dignitaries or the powerful people in the palace, David at that time saw himself surrounded by these broken people. And the Scripture says, 'So David became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.' Yes, in the cave. Having the same 'cave' experience. And even at the time when David himself was broken, God could still use him to touch the other broken people in the cave and raise them up.
To cut the whole story short, these broken people eventually became some of David's most faithful and powerful men (when David became king later in his life). In the darkness of the cave of Adullam, David became like a 'light' to these people. As time went by, these same people were renewed. Their hope rekindled. They were changed. They were transformed. Hallelujah!
You see, of all places, it was in that cave that God began to make clear David's path, the path that eventually led to him becoming the king in Israel.
I believe one thing David had inside of him that made the difference is he's a worshiper of the Lord. Deep inside him, he has this deep relationship with the Lord. He has this deep faith and assurance in the Lord that the Lord isn't dead, and the Lord hasn't forgotten him. Deep inside him, he trusted in the Lord, and knew it's not over yet for him. He knew the Lord still remembers His promises and destiny for him.
This 'cave' experience became like a base where David rose up again. In fact, stronger than ever before. You see, at that time, David could have crumbled and given up everything. He could have regressed into a lonely man, or turned into a miserable man. But, no. He didn't. With the Lord in him and with him; and by the grace of God, he rose up. And it was here that he became the leader of this group of seemingly 'useless' people in the eyes of the society. Not just that. They even turned into mighty warriors of the Lord!
In 2 Samuel 23, the time nearing the end of David's life, you can see the summary of the great things done by some of these mighty men who served with David. And some of them were actually among the four hundred in the cave of Adullam!
Cross-reference to Psalm 142:3. David prayed this when he was in the cave of Adullam. 'When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path...' Yes, the Lord knew his path. And beloved, the Lord knows your path too. Now, the word 'overwhelmed' here is 'ataph' in Hebrew. Interestingly, this word can mean 'in darkness, in chaos, in confusion'. Exactly like what the Lord has spoken today!
You see, the Lord will know how to show you the path forward, if you look to Him and seek Him. He always sees the 'big picture'. He always sees the end from the beginning, even when you can't. Your part is to be patient. Keep focusing on the Lord, not on your own situation or your own doubts. Everything will become clearer and clearer when you look to the Lord.
So beloved, whatever 'cave' experience that you are going through at the moment, take heart. Keep looking to the Lord and trusting in the Lord. Do you know that God does great things in the cave? Let me show you the proof. Elijah was in the cave when God spoke to him further about the details of what's to come, and about what he should be doing, going forward. In fact, Jesus Himself was in the cave where His tomb was (yes, that was a kind of cave), before He resurrected!
You see? Your 'cave' experience; seemingly in the dark, and seemingly not knowing what comes next; can be where God begins a new dawn in your life, where God begins a new work in your life, and where God prepares you for something great in the future!
Like David in the cave!
Like Elijah in the cave!
Like Jesus Himself in the cave!
Let us remember Proverbs 3:5-6 that says, 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.'
Indeed, things are going to become clearer and clearer, as you seek the Lord, as you surrender yourself before the Lord, and as you continue to put your trust in the Lord.
He will know how to direct your paths. He will know how to show you the way. He will know how to lead you into His destiny for your life. Amen!
