Streams in the Desert February 23 Daily Devotional

And there came a lion (1Sam.17:34).
It is a source of inspiration & strength to come in touch with the

youthful David, trusting God. Through faith in God he conquered a lion & a bear, & afterwards overthrew the mighty Goliath. When that lion came to despoil that flock, it came as a wondrous opportunity
to David. If he had failed or faltered he would have missed God's
opportunity for him & probably would never have come to be God's chosen king of Israel. "And there came a lion."
One would not think that a lion was a special blessing from God;
one would think that only an occasion of alarm. The lion was God's
opportunity in disguise. Every difficulty that presents itself to
us, if we receive it in the right way, is God's opportunity. Every temptation that comes is God's opportunity.
When the "lion" comes, recognize it as God's opportunity no matter
how rough the exterior. The very tabernacle of God was covered with badgers' skins & goats' hair; one would not think there would be
any glory there. The Shekinah of God was manifest under that kind of covering. May God open our eyes to see Him, whether in
temptations, trials, dangers, or misfortunes.--C.H.P.