Recently as Pais USA we explored the story of Samuel anointing Saul to be King. (1 Samuel 10)
Over the past few days as I have reflected and teams have been starting placements with church partners all over the world I have felt God bring back what happened just after Saul’s anointing to my attention.
In the passage that follows Samuel gets ready to announce Saul as the new King Israel had been calling for. But when he looks for Saul, to bring him forward, he had disappeared. “So they asked the Lord, Where is he? And the Lord replied, he is hiding among the baggage. So they found him and brought him out, and he stood head and shoulders above everyone else.” (1 Samuel 10:22-23)
How weird, right!
It’s a big moment, he is about to be declared King and Saul disappears. The bible doesn’t give us a clear insight into why he chose to hide, instead of rising to the occasion but I wonder if there was something of a common dynamic among our teams around this time of year going on in that moment.
Could this passage be the 2nd stage of the 4 stages of learning cycle playing out in scripture? A moment in which Saul’s flight or fight response is triggered by the realisation of the scale of the task in front of him and the recognition that he doesn’t know anything about being a King?
Different people respond in various ways when hit with the realisation they don’t know what they don’t know. For some people it triggers a knuckle down response and they persevere into learning what they need as they go. Others freeze and get stuck in a never ending research loop, whilst others try and compromise/bargain attempting to adapt the new context to the knowledge and experience they already have. Sometimes it even triggers panic and people seemingly give up and simply conclude the task in front of them is too difficult.
Some of us may be seeing those responses in our teams already, as they are settling into their new placements, strategising how to put new concepts into action with the new tools they have just been trained to use.
These are all natural responses.
Like Samuel it is our privilege to help them navigate these feelings, expectations and reactions. Our guidance can make all the difference. Samuel did 3 things;
He publicly affirmed and celebrated Saul,
He clearly defined the role of the King and envisioned the nation
He rallied the people in support of the King
Samuel’s effort were also met by God supernaturally helping things along touching a group of the men’s hearts, who were present, who became Saul’s constant companions.
Similarly this is a great time to;
Encourage our teams affirming and celebrating the roles God has invited them into this year
Remind our teams of vision, and the privilege of the responsibilities that come with it
Enthuse them to inspire and encourage each other as they develop as a team.
It is also a great time to pray for our teams and welcome the Holy Spirit whom God promised as a gift to move in our hearts and help us supernaturally become the most effective teams we can for the advancement of His Kingdom.
Long may we come alive as we determine to do whatever it takes to relentlessly carry life wherever we set foot!