What do you do when you know something is rightfully yours, but you don’t have it yet? Do you take it? Do you go out and ‘make it happen’? Society tells us that if we don’t look out for ourselves then no one will. We need to protect what’s rightfully ours and ensure that we receive all we’re entitled to.

In the Lord of the Rings, we first meet Aragorn as a mysterious stranger, belittled and despised by Boromir. However, despite the way others view him, he knew his identity as the true King of Gondor. He didn’t need to overreach, make a power grab or prove to anyone else that he was worthy of the throne and it was from this place of assured security that he was able to humbly serve Frodo and his feisty four-foot friends without taking matters into his own hands.

We see a similar story in 1 Samuel 24. David is anointed as the next King but is fleeing Saul who currently holds the throne. On the run, his opportunity to seize the crown and annihilate Saul comes when the reigning King relieves himself in the very cave David is hiding in. His men, eager to attack, are held back by David’s command not to touch the Lord’s anointed, and Saul, not knowing the danger he was in, leaves the cave unharmed.

David was no stranger to a cave. In Psalm 57 he cries out to God taking refuge until “the storms of destruction pass by” (Psalm 57:1 ESV). He cries out to the One who “fulfils His purpose for me” (v2).

There it is.

God will fulfil His purpose for you. David was anointed as King. He knew the cave wasn’t his destiny, but he didn’t take matters into his own hands, make a power grab, or stage a coup. David trusted that in God’s perfect timing, he would raise him up to sit on the throne.

What about you? Are you able to wait and trust that God will fulfil His purpose for you? Or are you currently trying to escape the cave through striving, overreaching and trying to prove to the world (and yourself) that you have value, worth, significance and purpose? You do have these things, but not because you get them for yourself, but because of who Jesus says you are and the fact he chose to die in your place.

One of the most beautiful things about Aragorn’s crowning in Lord of the Rings is that as Frodo and his friends go to bow, he says, “My friends, you bow to no one…” even when he is finally recognised and crowned as King, Aragorn is still humble enough to recognise and exalt others. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.” (1 Peter 5:6 ESV)

You have nothing to prove. Humble yourself and “because he cares for you,” (v7) trust that God will fulfil His purpose for you.