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At long last, David can finally come home from exile and assume his rightful role as king. But this isn’t a happily ever after.
God appointed David king as a teenager, but he didn’t step fully into that role until age 40. His first seven years on the throne were spent serving a kingdom divided by civil war. Those in Judah were loyal to David, but the fallout with those who were loyal to the late Saul would continue for years.
David’s problems didn't go away when Saul did. We want to believe that following Jesus will give us a pain-free life, but David’s life shows that this isn’t part of the deal. Even when God’s promises came true, pain was still part of David’s path. David became a man after God’s own heart, not because his life was devoid of hardship but rather because through his trials, David kept seeking God.
We will still struggle. We’ll still be tempted. We’ll still deal with disappointment and fear and heartbreak. But God promises to be with us through it all, and to help us carry our burdens. As we seek to follow God, we have keep choosing to trust him—even when it’s hard.
Jesus reiterates this reality when speaking to his closest followers. His words gave them hope then, and they can give you hope today: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NLT).