Day 126

1 Samuel 16–17 | Acts 19:1–20

⸻

David didn’t look the part.

Seven older brothers stood before Samuel first. All taller. Stronger. More likely candidates for king. Even the prophet assumed the next leader of Israel had to fit a mold—appearance, pedigree, presence.

But God said no.

“The Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

David wasn’t selected because of a standout résumé. He was chosen because of a surrendered heart.

And I can’t shake that thought—especially now, after rewriting my résumé for the first time in fourteen years.

It’s sharp. Strategic. Every bullet polished to highlight experience, accomplishments, metrics, outcomes. And yet—I keep wondering: will anyone actually see my full value in a few drops of black ink on a white page?

Probably not—and that’s what haunts me.

Because the things I most want to communicate can’t be listed on a résumé:

The endurance forged in suffering. The sleepless nights spent solving someone else’s problem. The conviction to say the hard thing when no one else will. The loyalty to stay long after it stops being convenient.

There’s no bullet point for those—but that’s the part God sees most.

The Qualifications That Matter Most

David didn’t come with a military record or royal lineage.

He came with a slingshot and a work history of guarding sheep.

And when Goliath mocked Israel, David stepped up—not because he was overconfident, but because he was convinced:

“The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:37)

David didn’t trust his skillset.

He trusted his Shepherd.

And in that trust, God made a statement:

It’s not your résumé that matters most. It’s your readiness to obey.

The Work God Sees

This weekend, I joined a group from our church for a workday—people of all ages and backgrounds pulling weeds, patching drywall, scrubbing walls, replacing trim, painting curbs.

Nothing glamorous. No applause. Just small acts of faithfulness.

But I couldn’t help thinking: This is the stuff God sees.

If I’m honest, there’s still a part of me that wants to be impressive. To be validated. To be noticed and known and rewarded for the work I’ve done.

But what if the work that matters most isn’t the part they’ll ever see on a résumé?

What if the real fruit isn’t what you list, but who you become?

The Power of the Spirit, Not the Spotlight

In Acts 19, Paul meets some disciples who hadn’t even heard of the Holy Spirit.

So he lays hands on them—and they receive the power of God.

It wasn’t about eloquence or education or experience. It was about empowerment. And that’s what fueled everything that followed.

The miracles. The conversions. The citywide stir.

Because when God fills ordinary people with His Spirit, extraordinary things happen.

Not because we’re impressive.

But because He is.

⸻

Lord, I want to be faithful in the places no one sees. In the drywall patch. The slingshot aim. The résumé no one reads. Strip away my need to be impressive. And make me the kind of person You can trust with the quiet work—the backstage faithfulness that only You reward. Let my heart—not my highlights—be what qualifies me most. Amen.