Awhile back while watching THE BIBLE miniseries I was shocked and awakened when I realized the impact one person could make in history. Another astounding realization (that I could unfortunately relate to) was how often a person traded in a moment what they really needed the most.

The lame man for instance (Acts Ch. 3) asked for money. Money may have been what he needed at that moment, but what he needed the most was healing.

The woman at the well (John Ch. 4) needed water at that moment. What she did not realize is that the Lord wanted to give her Living Water.

Sampson traded in a moment what he wanted the most. He wanted to serve the Lord but in a moment of passion, he traded his Divine strength for the favor of a woman. God had given Sampson unique abilities and a Divine assignment in life, but he compromised because he wanted something else at that moment.

One of the greatest fears of my life is also one of the saddest scriptures I have ever read. It’s about Sampson and it is found in Judges 16. The Bible records that Sampson “did not know that the LORD had left him.”

This is a huge caution flag to me! My personal preferences and busy lifestyle can make me insensitive to God’s presence. We can get so focused on what we want in the moment (instant gratification or immediate relief) that we fail to work towards, direct our actions and prayers towards what we really need the most.

At times we ask the Lord to “solve problems” and “fix situations”, because it would bring relief for the moment, but the Lord wants to bring relief for a lifetime.  We have been given Divine assignments. There is a Divine plan for our lives, for every situation and for every unexpected circumstance. Every hardship, every challenge we face are all working towards the plan and purposes of God for our lives. 

And I want you to know that God redeemed Sampson. Sampson sought forgiveness and God had compassion on him and used him mightily once again.

Debbie Stuart