Anointed but not (yet) appointed

For the past year or so, I have been meditating on and drawing inspiration from the story of David's life prior to him being appointed as King of Israel. While at university, I declared that I will, one day, become the President of Trinidad and Tobago. My public declaration was met with scepticism, particularly from close relatives, or motivational words, "You will be amazing!". I saw this vocation or calling as divinely inspired and I zealously studied to ensure that I was equipped in political and international affairs for my future job. Little did I know that my training ground would be “out in the fields” and there I learned three invaluable principles:

1. The principle of being faithful in little – David was faithfully out in the fields tending to the sheep and goats. There are biblical accounts of how he fended off a lion and bear to protect the sheep and goat in his care. It’s my opinion that while he was being faithful in these small things, he developed the confidence to later defeat Goliath. I have applied this principle to my life and discovered that “small things” represent small steps towards achieving my long term goals.

2. The principle of knowing thyself – When Samuel went to anoint the future King of Israel, he was cautioned against looking at the outward appearance as “the Lord sees the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). It was only after Samuel inquired if there was another son that Jesse recalled David tending the sheep and goat in the field. I have come to appreciate the importance of knowing how you are in God even when people, including close relatives and friends don’t see the calling of God upon your life. I stopped feeling anxious or the need to prove myself to those who seemed sceptical. I patiently came to understand that we often see the outward and it’s simply a limitation of human sight and not a deliberate attempt to slight someone.

3. The principle of serving without appointment or titles – While David was anointed King, he was not yet appointed and subsequently returned to tending the sheep and goat. This principle helped me to recognise that while I felt called to a larger purpose that I am also called to serve in my current position or circumstance.

My testimony is that today, as part of judicial reform in Trinidad and Tobago, I serve as a Court Manager, Criminal and Traffic Courts at the Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago in hopes of a future appointment as the President of Trinidad and Tobago.