In 2 Samuel 21, David asks the Gibeonites how he can atone for Israel's sin against them. David was dealing with the consequences from Saul's sin, but he sought the Lord with courage. There are individual and cultural consequences when we take our eyes off the Lord. We must rise up, put a stake in the ground, and take on the consequences In the name of the Lord.

Proverbs 21:1 says, "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will." Our lives are like jigsaw puzzles where one piece connects to another piece, which connects to another piece, until all the pieces are connected. Sometimes we might get frustrated when things aren't working out as we think they should, but we must remember that God is sovereign and He controls all things. God directs our life and we need to be ready to move wherever He might take us. We can point people to the Lord, trust in his sovereignty and not lose it when things don't go our way.

Satan went after Job and accused him of only following God because God had blessed him. Job lost everything and he quickly went from being at the top of the mountain to being at the bottom of the mountain. We need humility no matter where we are at and God will build our character through adversity. Joni Erickson Tada became paralyzed at the age of 17 and after that, she completely relied on the Lord for everything. God has been conforming her into the image of Jesus Christ. Her mountain top might look different from what she pictured, but she is breathing in the Lord Jesus Christ and making Him known.