Yes, But Not Yet
“So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.” 1 Samuel 16:13 (NIV)
6/28/20262 min read
Recently there was a social media trend where little kids were sat in front of a bowl of candy and told they could have it, but they had to wait. The adult then leaves the room and suddenly the candy becomes the most powerful force in the universe. Some kids sit there with wide eyes and bouncing knees, trying to stay strong until the adult returned. Others stare at the candy as if it’s calling their name. Most of them eventually give in because waiting feels impossible when the thing you want is right in front of you. Waiting is hard, especially when what we want is good, allowed, and already promised.
In 1 Samuel 16 David had his own version of the candy bowl moment. He was Jesse’s youngest son, out in the field with sheep, mud, and the smells that come with farm life. Then Samuel showed up, poured oil on his head, and told him he would the next king of Israel. Samuel then left and David was sent right back to the field. Imagine being told you are chosen by God for something incredible and then being told you cannot have it yet. David had to carry the weight of a promise he could not touch. He had to walk with the knowledge that God had chosen him, while still living in a season that looked nothing like the promise. He had to keep tending sheep, keep learning responsibility, keep fighting off lions and bears, and keep growing into the kind of man who could carry a crown without it crushing him.
David learned to worship while he waited. He learned to fight lions and bears while he waited. He learned humility, obedience, and courage while he waited. By the time the throne was ready for him, he was ready for the throne.
God does the same with us. He places promises in our hearts and then leads us into seasons that stretch our character, deepen our faith, and strengthen our trust. The waiting is where God shapes us into who we need to be for what He has already planned. He gives us a glimpse of the future, a whisper of purpose, or a promise that makes our hearts leap. Then He says, “Not yet.” Not because He is withholding something good, but because He is preparing us for something great.
Waiting seasons are not wasted seasons. They are classrooms. They are training grounds. They are places where God strengthens our character, deepens our faith, and teaches us how to trust Him even when the blessing is in the room but not in our hands. So if you are in a “not yet” moment, take heart. You are not forgotten. You are not overlooked. You are being prepared. And when God says it is time, you will be ready.