When God Leads the Way

God Is Already Working in Your Story

Dear Friends, have you ever felt like your life was just wandering—searching for something you couldn’t quite find, while God was quietly arranging everything behind the scenes? That’s exactly what we see in the opening of Saul’s story in 1 Samuel 9.

Saul was a tall, handsome young man from the tribe of Benjamin, son of Kish, a man of wealth and standing. One day his father’s donkeys strayed, and Kish sent Saul and a servant to find them. They searched through hill country, through Shalisha, Shaalim, and the land of Benjamin—but the donkeys were nowhere to be found. After days of fruitless searching, Saul was ready to give up and go home, worried his father would stop caring about the donkeys and start worrying about them instead.

But God had other plans. The servant suggested they ask the man of God—the seer—in the nearby city. And who was that seer? Samuel. The same Samuel God had called as a boy in the temple. God had already spoken to Samuel the day before, telling him, “Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel.”

When Saul arrived, tired, dusty, and still donkey-less, Samuel was waiting. He looked at Saul and heard the Lord whisper, “This is the man.” Samuel invited Saul to the high place, shared a meal with him, and the next morning took him aside privately. There, in a sacred moment, Samuel poured oil over Saul’s head and kissed him, declaring, “Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over his people Israel?”

Here’s the breathtaking truth: Saul wasn’t looking for a crown—he was looking for donkeys. Yet God was orchestrating every step. The lost animals, the long search, the servant’s suggestion, the timing of their arrival—all of it was God’s hand guiding Saul straight to the place of his calling.

We often think we’re wandering aimlessly, chasing after small things, while God is already moving mountains to bring us to something far greater. He knows the end from the beginning. He prepares the way long before we see it. And when the moment comes, He doesn’t shout from heaven—He simply meets us where we are, often through ordinary circumstances, and says, “This is what I have for you.”

So if you’re feeling lost today, still searching for your “donkeys,” take heart. God is already at work. He’s positioning people, arranging details, and speaking to those He’s called to guide you. Trust the process. Keep walking faithfully in the small things. The One who called Samuel as a child and anointed Saul as a king is the same God who is writing your story—and He never wastes a step.

Point to Ponder: God is already working in your story, even when all you can see is a fruitless search.

Verse to Remember: “And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him, ‘This is the man…’” (1 Samuel 9:17, adapted) – A quiet reminder that God sees and plans long before we understand.

Question to Consider: What “donkeys” are you searching for right now, and how might God be using them to lead you toward His greater purpose for your life?

Article written by Shaun Fereday, Leader @SFGH Church