Who’s on the Throne? Finding God’s Best Case Scenario in 1 Samuel 8

1 Samuel 8:6–9

6 But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”   

Why is it that we think we know better than God?

When I was reading 1 Samuel 8, I was dumbfounded. Why would the Israelites want an imperfect human king when they could have the one and only perfect King—the King of kings—reigning over them?

Then it hit me: because they are just like me.

How many times have I insisted on my own way instead of listening to and obeying the Holy Spirit? Too many to count—and I’ve regretted it every single time. As Chuck Missler used to say in his teachings, "God's will is our best-case scenario." Every time we choose not to do things His way, it’s a mistake.

Recently, I finally surrendered Illuminate The Truth to the Lord. I laid it at His feet and decided to follow what He truly wants for this space: ministry and serving His people, not retail.

I kept trying to force a retail model because, financially, that was the only thing that made sense to me. From an earthly perspective, I couldn't see how this place could pay the bills if I was offering free events instead of

selling products.

I kept trying to do things my way, and guess what? It was a huge mistake.

After a full year of being in the red, I finally surrendered. It took a sister in Christ speaking truth in love to open my eyes to what God had been trying to tell me all along. She said, "Chris, if you are busy with retail, you won't have time for what God actually has for you."

Her words struck my heart like a breath of fresh air! The reality was that I didn't even like retail. Trying to make it work felt like pushing a heavy boulder up a hill—and that’s because I was resisting the Rock and trying to make myself king.

The moment I finally surrendered, the Lord started putting the right people in my path and opening doors for new ministry opportunities and fresh revenue models. God works fast when we align our hearts with His. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner! I would have saved myself so much stress, because now I am doing what I truly love, and He is making a way for the finances.

It is never a good idea to put ourselves—or anyone else—on the throne. He is the King, and He is the only One we will ever need.

If you know God is calling you to do something that stretches you or feels humanly impossible, my advice is to jump in and agree with His plan immediately. Finding God's best case scenario for your life is always the path to peace. You will never regret it. Trust Him, even if it takes time for everything to become clear as He puts the pieces together. Striving in our own strength only leaves us depleted and unfulfilled.

Reflection: Is there an area where you’ve been choosing what "makes sense financially or logically" over what God has clearly prompted you to do? What fears are keeping you from trusting Him with the outcome?

We serve a good God and a perfect Father. Trust Him—He is faithful, and He is good!

With love,

Chris

A disclaimer that all ministry content, blog posts, prayer ministry, Bible studies, and educational materials are provided for spiritual and educational purposes and are not medical, mental health, legal, or financial advice.