“A time to mourn and a time to dance” (Ecclesiastes 3:4).

King Saul of Old Testament Israel was not a godly king. He was taking God’s people in the wrong direction; therefore, God decided to make a change in leadership. The prophet Samuel knew this was the right move, but Samuel was hesitant to move on.

God had to prompt him with these words: “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king” (1 Samuel 16:1).

Yes, it was sad, but it was time to move forward. God had a plan. The best was yet to come. The longer Samuel would dwell on the past, the more he would miss out on what God had in store for the future.

I do that sometimes. I get so caught up mourning losses from the past that I can’t see the blessings God has prepared for my future. Maybe you do that too. In fact, maybe today you will begin to feel the aching burn of mourning start to grab hold of your heart.

It is okay to grieve. But don’t let grief block your view of the greater blessing that God has in store for you. Sometimes the losses we endure in the present allow God to do greater things in the future.