Your Fear Is Lying to You | 1 Samuel 16

when he's like 12, he's like in middle school, I don't know if they had middle school back then, but he was in middle school age. It says that Jesus grew in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and man. And for me, isn't it awesome to know that, well, if Jesus had to grow, then maybe what doesn't feel possible for me today could be possible, especially if the Holy Spirit is waiting to rush and strengthen you. This is the Crossroads Daily. No experts, no perfect people, just honest conversations about what happens when the Bible shows up in real life. (upbeat music) Hey, I'm Chuck. - I'm Jamie. - I'm Zach. - And I'm Vivian. - And we are in, you said like just a light part of the Bible, first Samuel is lots of narrative. That part's good, but there's a lot happening in here that is like what? And this person did this, and this is a prophet of God, but he did what? There's a lot of this that's going on. And it's kind of the introduction of David, who was a key figure, not just in the Bible, but in culture, particularly in the Israeli story and the Hebrew story. So as we get into that today,

we're talking about how God doesn't make the same assessments about people that we often do. And in this scripture, particularly in chapter 16, we find that out. So I'm wondering the assessments people make about you. What do you think is the first thing people notice about you? - Short Asian woman. (laughing) - We went there. - Right? - Yeah, right? - Yeah. - Okay. - Yeah. - I was going to say my smile. - Oh, it's nice. - I think that's the thing that I get to most tell. - You have a great smile. - But maybe tall black woman. I don't know. They don't tell me, besides the smile, they tell me the smile. - Amazing. I mean, I think I can relate with David 'cause I'm a fellow short king. (laughing) - There you go. - Spend a lot of time on the apps, you know? I'm sure that's probably not what most people think about,

but that's what the internet has trained me to think. - There you go. - About myself. - People look at me and see my striking handsomeness and it's like, that's the first note. - Oh. - It's like the kind of thing. - It's like the kind of thing. - That's right, it's kidding. It's just kidding. But isn't it interesting? Like I think you're right. Whether it's usually something external that we often think about ourselves. Next question, what do you think God thinks about first when he sees you? Do you think it's the same thing? Do you think God thinks short Asian woman or you're a smile or short king? What do you think God thinks when you first see you? First off, you just hit a new level, Chuck said, called you a short king. - That's right. (laughing) - That's right. - I had to acknowledge that. - Yes. - And Jesus is the king of kings. - The king of kings. - We all agree.

- That's right. - Well, it says that he sees our heart. So I think he sees like my heart's desire, but he also sees my shortcomings, because he can't hide that from him. And he sees someone who's trying to follow him, but who maybe doesn't always do it so well, a lot of the time. - No, I think that's so good. And I love what you said about he sees our heart, because that comes up in the verse today, right? So Samuel, the prophet Samuel, who the book is kind of telling his story, but it's transitioning to another story, is looking for the next king of Israel. And he is not looking for a short king, Zach. He's looking fortunately. - He's looking for himself. - Yeah, right. - He's the one that looks kingly. - Right. - I get him in every girl unbumbles. - There you go, big house. So like, I mean, he goes, you know, God gives him a word and says, hey, the place to go is Jesse's house. And it's one of Jesse's sons. And it's so cool. 'Cause you see Samuel and like his first son, I'm sure, looked tall.

And Samuel's like, oh, this is the guy, right? You know, and goes through all of them. And then eventually he's like, do you have any other sons? And it's almost like, it's almost like Jesse forgot that he had another son. Yeah, but him? Like he's taking care of sheep. And so he comes and he's the one that God anoints. What do we learn about God with the selection of David? - It's not always the obvious choice. - Yeah. - Yeah. And sometimes it's the characteristics that maybe other people aren't thinking are important. - Yeah, yeah. Have you ever underestimated somebody or just misread somebody? - Totally. - Like yeah, have that played out for us. I mean, I've done that. - I mean, both ways, right? Like sometimes you're like, I mean, I guess that's the thing about misreading people of like, I see this person and I just make all these assumptions. And like, even maybe sometimes in my less minor moments of, oh, I just, I don't actually want to interact with you

and I don't want to be around you. And then you spend time with them and you're like, I could not have been more wrong. - Yeah. - And then sometimes you think the world of a person and then you get close enough and you're like, I couldn't, I couldn't see these. So it's like the whole adage of like, don't judge a book by it's cover. - That's right, that's right. - Good or bad? - I'll tell you an example that I'm not ashamed to tell now 'cause I think God taught me through it, but as you guys know, I have a heart for racial healing and bringing people together across difference. And so we were at Disney World with my kids. This is when they were little and we were at the pool and if you ever stayed on Disney property, like everybody's at the pool. It's so busy. And my little son Nathan is playing, he's like, I don't know, he's like four at the time. He's playing with this little white girl. And I see her dad on the other side of the pool and her dad is like big beard, tattered up. And in my mind, I'm just like, this is not gonna be good. So I'm like, pop a bear. Like I'm like expecting this guy to say something to my son and I'm like waiting for him to say something to my son.

So literally like, they go over toward her dad and I'm like all tense, just thinking like, this is not gonna, and running is not gonna do well. But dad was the sweetest guy. And this is how God uses your kids to just like, oh, in your heart. My son swims back over to me and he's like, dad, isn't it cool that we can be friends with people who look different? I swear, it's what I said, I'm like, oh, oh, it was the, it was, but it was this reality of like, yeah, God looks at the heart. I'm looking at the external of this guy and God is looking at this. I was so convicted. I was so convicted, Nathan's 18 today and I still remember that day. But man, I've done that, I've done that. - Totally, and we don't want people to judge us by our exterior and yet I do it back. - Yeah, yeah, yeah. So man, I think this story is interesting and I wanna pull out one scripture that struck me when I was reading it because even though David didn't fit the externals, I don't know if I've ever noticed this before, but after he's anointed, it says, then Samuel took the horn of oil in verse 13 and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And this is what it says.

And the spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward, not moved, not eased, not settled, but there was like a, oh, man. And I think, I think there's something for us in that, whoever you are who's listening, I think there's something about why are you not limited by your externals? And it's because we have access to the Holy Spirit. So let me ask you a question. Is there a place you've been underestimating yourself that God is calling you to step into? - Mm, man. I know for me, outside of here, I do comedy and stuff and I am getting ready for like a big recording and I know I don't feel ready. And it's like that thing of like, I don't know if I ever will unless I actually go do it. And I think that's a lot of things. Like you don't know that there will be something to catch you until you jump, you know? And I think, yeah, it's in the same way. I feel like God doesn't show up a lot of times unless you actually take the step to do something. - That's awesome, man. I love that you're taking that step. - Yeah, it's scary. October 17th, and I'm just kidding. (all laughing) - There's a problem over there. Like here, if you want to know.

- Tickets going fast. - Right, right, right, right. How about you too? Is there something that feels like you might be underestimating yourself but God's calling you to it? - Well, I would say I'm being challenged to lead in a different way. I think I have a lot of experience, I'd say, leading from the front or leading when I'm in charge. And I feel like God's been putting me in positions where I'm leading from behind. And it doesn't feel very comfortable because I feel out of control. And then I'm reminded, well, if God is asking me to step into this, then he's going to help it to all work out. So I've tried to say yes to those things even though they made me really uncomfortable. - I love that, I love that. - I have for a while been writing a screenplay. - Cool. - Awesome, cool, let's go. - And by actively writing, I mean, I write sometimes and then I stop because I'm just like, what if this is bad? And I think the realization of like, first off, I think it will be bad and that's okay. Like I think what God is like challenging me and this is like perfection isn't the goal.

And so he's like, if you just trust me that I've put creative juices in you and you just allow them to flow like, we can get to a flow state. But I'm just like, I just want to be good today. And so maybe I shouldn't, right? And that's kind of, I mean, that's just one example of like, I feel like, I feel the tug and so it's just will I respond, yeah. - You know, in some ways, in many ways actually, David is kind of, So there are things about David that kind of reflect forward to Jesus, like the whole king thing, and being an unlikely king. And I love that in the story of Jesus, early in his story, when he's like 12, he's like a middle school. I don't know if they had middle school back then, but he was in middle school age. It says that Jesus grew in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and man. And for me, isn't it awesome to know that, well, if Jesus had to grow, then maybe what doesn't feel possible for me today could be possible, especially if the Holy Spirit is waiting to rush and strengthen you and support you. So today, I just wanna encourage you, if there's a place where you've been underestimating yourself,

maybe that's the very place where God wants to invite you to grow, and when you take that step, whatever that step is, finish the screenplay, do the thing, lead from behind. God is gonna meet you there with the power that you can anticipate, and it's gonna make all the difference. So I hope that encourages you today. (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music)