As a young man, I heard the call of God to go into the ministry. I felt the stirrings of the Holy Spirit directing me. Spiritual mentors spoke words of encouragement and agreed that I should follow that pathway. My family and friends told me that they had seen my walk with the Lord and felt that ministry should be the direction for my professional life. I listened to these voices and enrolled in ministerial training. As part of the degree track, during our sophomore year we were each to be interviewed and tested to see if we had the right stuff to be ministers. If it was deemed that we had it, we could proceed in our program.
I took my tests, filled out my psychological surveys, etc. Now came the day of my interview. My professor poured over the results. He paused momentarily. Then, leaning back in his chair, he looked at me for what seemed an eternity. Finally, he spoke.
The words that came out of his mouth stunned me.
In his estimation, I wouldn’t be successful in a career as a minister. It would be his recommendation that I not continue in the program. I was devastated. Interesting. His one voice had drowned out all of the others that had spoken positively to proceed. I headed home to tell my bride that I was going to change my career. How could I proceed when the voice of the professional had spoken against me?
King David faced the same quandary in 2 Samuel 5. He had finally ascended to the throne of Israel. And, now, he came face to face with his first major challenge. David and his men had come to Jerusalem, which was then under the control of the Jebusites. It was a formidable fortress. David and his men held no fear for the Jebusites! In verse 6 we read: “The Jebusites taunted David, saying ‘You’ll never get in here! Even the blind and lame could keep you out!’ For the Jebusites thought they were safe.”
For the most part, their taunt was true. David could have listened to their voices and turned away, but David had learned over his lifetime to listen to another voice — God’s. When the prophet Samuel sought God’s replacement for King Saul, even he couldn’t believe that God would choose a young shepherd boy — but God did! When he went up against the giant mighty Philistine warrior Goliath, Goliath thought it was an insult for Israel to send such a “little worm” to fight him. Once again, David listened to God and prevailed.
So when the Jebusites called out to convince David he was inadequate he ignored them. He listened to God. What was the result? “So David made the fortress his home, and he called it the City of David. He extended the city, starting at the supporting terracesand working inward. And David became more and more powerful, because the LordGod of Heaven’s Armies was with him.” (2 Samuel 5:9-10)
What are the voices saying to you? That you aren’t good enough? That you don’t have what it takes? That you don’t matter? God says otherwise! You are His beloved. You are His son/daughter. What about the challenges that are facing your job, your department, or, for that matter all of Loma Linda University Health?
God is saying that nothing is impossible for Him! And, through Him, nothing is impossible for us! “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37)
Each day, we must choose which voices we will listen to. I’m not sure why one negative or contrary statement has the ability to upend the many positive ones. What I do know is this: I choose to listen to and follow that same God that David did. Won’t you join me in doing the same?
—Terry Swenson, DMin, is director of University Spiritual Care.
