Recognizing Potential

Eliab had known David all of his life. After all, he was an older brother. On the day when Israel’s armies faced the Philistines, Eliab saw David and assumed that he was looking for a way to escape his duties. He thought David was insolent and irresponsible, and had a wicked heart.

On that same day, God saw these same traits and actions. However, instead of seeing them in a negative light, God saw them as the basis of potential.

God knew that David needed to be molded, that he wasn’t perfect. But He also knew that Israel needed a man like David who was willing to stand against Goliath and Israel’s enemies.

What Eliab saw as insolence became the boldness that David employed as Israel’s general and king. What Eliab saw as wickedness of the heart became David’s willingness to stand alone to lead Israel to a new future. What Eliab saw as David’s inexperience became the basis of David’s brazen faith in God. What Eliab saw as negative was what God saw as David’s potential for greatness and leadership.

In the same way, God sees potential in you. The world might see weaknesses or mistakes. They may focus on your imperfections and flaws. But God is ready to use all of these characteristics for good.

You can be like Eliab and forever focus on the negative qualities in yourself or others. Or you can ask God to allow us to see your potential, and the potential of others, from His perspective.

Make sure that you surrender your life into His hands, and allow Him to shape your character that you might fulfill the potential that He sees in you.