Picked Last

So, thinking about David. You know, the little boy in the bible that killed the giant with a sling and a stone. There is so much more to his story. An important prophet was to go to David's father and announce one of the sons as future king.
The prophet saw potential in the older brothers and God told him that it was not one of them. Finally, he asks the Dad is this all the boys you have. The Dad answers well, the youngest is tending sheep. The Dad doesn't even see the potential.

This just really made me think.... David becomes a very important and powerful king. He was the one. But what if he did not live with humility in his younger years. What if he had never been last pick with the brothers. Did God need to let him live that experience so He could call him to do big things? David is also the writer of Psalms. He loved God bigtime and credited Him for all of his success. Would he have done that if he were always first string?

1 Samuel 16:11 (New International Version)
11 So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?"
"There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep."
Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down [a] until he arrives."

Father,
We have all had a moment where we have been picked last or felt rejected. Let us believe that those things have a big purpose. I pray that you bind up the wound and bring it freedom that can only come from you. You allow things to bring us to bigger places. Show us how to let you turn our hurts into Your glory. I pray that you take old burdens off and put on new thoughts.
In Jesus' name,
Amen