It’s Not a Matter of If, But When
Key Scripture: Psalm 145
As I reflect on the key Scripture and the life of David, I see that the topic, “It’s Not a Matter of If, But When,” can be considered from diverse perspectives. At first, I looked at it as holding on to the promises and the Word of God. True, it is not a matter of if, but when, because the Word of the Lord has been refined like silver seven times. His Word is trustworthy, and His promises are assured. His Word shall be accomplished Therefore, in our waiting, let us focus on the King and not our circumstances. Let us also look to God for discernment and strategy, not acting on emotion but rather in obedience.
“It’s Not a Matter of If, But When,” for me also highlights wilderness seasons and times of challenge and grief. It is not a matter of if, but when. Nothing is hidden in this Christian walk. God has communicated everything we need to know through His Word. Jesus tells you will have tribulation John 16:33. The Word does not tell us that trials may come; it tells us that they will come. Another Scripture tells us that no temptation has overtaken us except what is common to humanity, but that God is faithful and will always provide a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). Therefore, we know that it is not a matter of if, but when. When will trials come? Surely, they will. However, we are triumphant in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:37 declares, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Our confidence is not that we will never experience difficulty, but that difficulty does not have the final word.
When I consider the life of David, I see a shepherd boy, a worshipper and an inquirer. David was known as a man after God's heart, not because he was perfect, but because of the condition and posture of his heart. David knew God, his helper. This is evident when he challenged Goliath. (1 Samuel 17:26). David knew and placed his confidence in who had previously delivered him (1 Samuel 17:37). In life my dear brother and sister, we must go through the get through. It’s not a matter of if, but when.
David was a man of honour and obedience. He understood that the promise of God did not give him permission to step outside the will of God to fulfil it. God had appointed him to be king, but David was willing to wait for God's timing. Although Saul was pursuing him and David had the opportunity to take his life, David refused to touch the Lord's anointed. (1 Samuel 24:6).
David the inquirer knew where to go and where to turn his focus in a time of turmoil. He strengthened himself in the Lord and then inquired of the Lord for direction and discernment. After the Amalekite raid David was deeply distressed. All the women and children gone and his life being threaten by his own men. Yet, he didn’t act off emotion, he sort the Lord and received direction to pursue and assurance that he will not fail. Samuel 30:8.
David was anointed king, but he did not immediately sit on the throne. There was a process, a wilderness. There were battles. There was waiting. There was opposition. There were moments when the promise seemed far from the reality. Yet it was not a matter of if, but when. God had spoken. And what God had ordained eventually came to pass in the life of David. This gives me encouragement because sometimes what God has promised does not look like what we are currently experiencing. The journey between the promise and the fulfilment can contain wilderness seasons, opposition, waiting and uncertainty. But God is still God in the waiting. After Saul had died, David could have chosen to assume the promise and take his position as king. But he inquired of the Lord for David understood that God’s promises does not remove our need for He presence and direction.
The thread within all of this, for me, is the posture of the heart. God looks at the heart. Our heart posture affects our relationship and fellowship with Him. Yet God's turning toward us is always rooted in His grace, covenant and mercy, and in our response to Him. Scripture says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8). Therefore, the posture of our heart determines whether we turn toward God and position ourselves to experience His presence and favour.
David's heart was continually being turned toward God. When he faced Goliath, he looked to God. When Saul pursued him, he looked to God. When Ziklag was destroyed, he strengthened himself in God. When he needed direction, he inquired of God. When he had the opportunity to kill Saul, he honoured God. When he became king, he continued to seek God's direction. This is why Acts 13:22 says, “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.” The heart of a person after God's own heart is a heart that continually seeks God's heart, God's presence and God's direction.
This is why I love that the Scripture linking to this topic is Psalm 145. The Psalm is a song of worship and adoration to our good God. David was not beseeching God for anything in this Psalm; rather, he was simply praising and exalting our great Lord. David begins with God: “I will extol You, my God, O King; and I will bless Your name forever and ever” (Psalm 145:1). He does not begin with his circumstances, his enemies, his needs or his problems. He begins with God. “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable” (Psalm 145:3). This is a powerful posture of the heart.
David had experienced warfare, rejection, wilderness seasons, grief, betrayal and difficulty. Yet he could still worship. For his worship was not dependent upon his circumstances, his worship was rooted in who God is. Thanksgiving and praise are powerful weapons of warfare. Praise shifts our focus from self to God. Thanksgiving cultivates humility. Reminding us that God is the source. Thanksgiving helps us to see our circumstances through the lens of who God is rather than allowing our circumstances to determine our view of God.
For me, thanksgiving is like a fertiliser within the soil of our heart. It creates an environment in which humility, trust and faith can grow. Scripture tells us, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Notice that it says in everything, not necessarily for everything. We may not thank God for the pain, grief or difficulty itself, but we can thank Him in the midst of it because we know He is with us and He is working.
Romans 8:28 reminds us, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Therefore, in our dark season, perhaps the question we need to ask is, “Do I love the Lord?” If the answer is yes, then we can take comfort in knowing that He is working it out for our good. we may not understand it. we may not like it. we may not know when it will end. But we know who holds us in it.
It’s not a matter of if, but when. When will trials come? Surely, they will. When will the wilderness come? There may be seasons. When will grief come? There will be moments of sorrow. But equally, when will God deliver? When will God fulfil His Word? When will God bring me through? When will I see the goodness of the Lord? We may not know the exact when, but if we know Who. Father God Almighty, Elohim. That indeed is knowledge enough!
May we therefore be equipped not only for excellent seasons when blessings are flowing, but also for challenging seasons. There is a blessing in every circumstance if only we have eyes to see. The Lord says to give thanks in every situation and circumstance. Psalm 145:14 reminds us, “The LORD upholds all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down.” Psalm 145:18 tells us, “The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.” What a comfort. The Lord is near. Even in the wilderness. Even in the waiting. Even in grief. Even when the promise appears delayed. Even when man overlooks us. Even when we cannot see what God is doing. The Lord is near.
Psalm 145:19 says, “He will fulfil the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.” Therefore, may we always look to the God of our salvation, as David did. May we learn to worship in the waiting. May we learn to praise in the process. May we learn to inquire before we pursue. May we learn obedience before promotion. May we learn faithfulness in the hidden place. And may we trust that what God has spoken, He is able to fulfil.
David was a young shepherd boy being prepared to overcome giants. David was the young boy overlooked by man but seen by God. David was a worshipper who learned to praise before he possessed the promise. David was an inquirer who sought God's direction before he pursued. David was a man of honour who refused to take the promise into his own hands. David was a man after God's own heart.
Perhaps this is the encouragement for us: You may be in the sheepfold today, but God may be preparing you for the palace. You may be in the wilderness today, but God has not forgotten His promise. You may be in a battle today, but God has not abandoned you. You may be overlooked by man, but you are seen by God. You may not know when, but you can trust who.
Because ultimately, it is not a matter of if, but when. God's Word is true. His promises are sure. His presence is with us. His grace is sufficient. His purposes will stand. His timing is perfect. Therefore, let our hearts remain positioned toward Him. A heart that seeks God's face receives God's direction. A heart that receives God's direction can move in obedience. And obedience positions us to experience what God has promised.
So, while we wait, let us praise. While we journey, let us trust. While we face the battle, let us inquire. While we are in the wilderness, let us worship. And when the promise comes to pass, let us remember the One who brought us through.
“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.”
Psalm 145:3
It’s not a matter of if, but when. And while we wait for the “when”, may our hearts remain turned toward the King.
