A New King: Trusting God’s Plan When We Don’t Understand It

By Danny Saavedra

“The Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.’ But Samuel said, ‘How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.’ The Lord said, ‘Take a heifer with you and say, “I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.” Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.’”—1 Samuel 16:1–3 (NIV)

Have you ever felt like your life was stuck in a holding pattern—like you’re just waiting for the next chapter, but it’s nowhere in sight? It’s the kind of feeling you get when you’re waiting for that perfect job, the right relationship, or even the breakthrough you’ve been praying for. You’re in a season where things feel paused, and you have no idea what’s coming next. And yet, in those moments, God might be quietly preparing you for something far greater than you could ever imagine. Sometimes, when things look uncertain, God is actually working behind the scenes to set the stage for His perfect plan.

In today’s Scripture, we find the prophet Samuel in a similar place. The nation of Israel is in turmoil, and Samuel is grieving. God had chosen Saul to be king, but Saul had disobeyed God’s commands and lost God’s favor. Samuel, like many of us, is stuck in this moment of uncertainty—unsure of what’s next. He’s mourning the failure of the man who was supposed to lead Israel, and he’s probably wondering, “What now?” But God’s answer to Samuel isn’t to stay stuck in grief. Instead, God says, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel?”

It’s easy to feel like the story is over when things go wrong or when life doesn’t turn out as planned. But God isn’t finished yet. Just as Samuel is mourning over the loss of Saul’s kingship, God is already preparing a new king. And He’s not going to let Samuel sit in that place of grief too long. God tells Samuel to fill his horn with oil and go to Bethlehem, where He’s chosen a new king from the house of Jesse.

It’s in this moment that Samuel has to make a choice: Will he trust God’s plan, even when it’s unclear? Will he step out in faith, even though he doesn’t fully understand what’s coming next?

This is where we can all relate. How many times in our own lives have we found ourselves grieving a loss, stuck in a place of confusion, or wondering what God’s doing? Maybe a relationship ended, a dream didn’t come true, or you feel like you’re being overlooked or forgotten. Friends, I can tell you I’ve experienced literally every one of these—and all recently, too. In these moments, we sometimes disengage, disconnect, and isolate; we tend to retreat from God when we need to be running toward Him, because in these moments, God’s inviting us to trust Him and to keep moving forward, even when we don’t have all the answers. The key is remembering that God’s plan is bigger than what we can see in the moment.

Samuel’s obedience to God’s command is the turning point. God has a new king already chosen, but it requires Samuel to step out in faith and act, even when he doesn’t know all the details. He has to trust that God’s plan is unfolding, even though he can’t see the end result. And this is where we can take a page out of Samuel’s book: When we don’t understand what God’s doing, we have to trust that He’s always working behind the scenes for our good.

Just as Samuel was called to anoint a king who was hidden in the midst of an ordinary family, God often works in surprising ways. He doesn’t always reveal His plan all at once. Sometimes, we only see part of the picture, but that doesn’t mean God isn’t at work. His plan for your life is unfolding, even in the moments that feel uncertain.

The truth is, this passage points us to something even greater: Jesus. Just as God chose a new king for Israel in an unexpected way, God chose Jesus, the ultimate King, in a way that no one anticipated. The world expected a warrior king who would conquer with might, but God sent Jesus as a humble servant, born in a stable. Jesus, the King of kings, came in a way that shocked the world. And He didn’t just come to rule an earthly kingdom, He came to save us from sin and death and to establish God’s eternal kingdom.

When we face moments of uncertainty, we can trust that God’s always working in the background, preparing something greater than we can imagine. The disappointment Samuel felt when Saul failed was just a setup for the incredible hope we have in Jesus. Just as God didn’t leave Samuel in a place of grief, He doesn’t leave us either. He’s always at work bringing about His perfect plan, even when we can’t see it.

Pause: Are there areas of your life where you’re grieving or uncertain? Take a moment to reflect on how God might be working behind the scenes, even when you can’t see the full picture.

Practice: This week, whenever you feel stuck or uncertain, remind yourself that God’s working His plan in your life, even if it’s not clear yet. Choose to trust Him and take the next step in faith.

Pray: Father, thank You for the reminder that You’re always at work, even when I don’t see it. Help me to trust You in the moments of uncertainty and to follow You with faith, knowing You’re preparing something greater than I could ever imagine. Thank You for the hope I have in Jesus, the King who came to save me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.