Getting to Your Next Chapter: Lessons from Samuel and David
Imagine reading a great book and getting stuck on chapter four. The first time through, it's gripping. The second time, you catch a detail you missed. By the fifth time, you're frustrated—no new surprises, no progress, just the same page over and over. That's how a lot of us feel about our lives. We sense there's a next chapter, but we can't seem to turn the page.
As we close out our Walk Faithfully series through the life of Samuel, we land in 1 Samuel 16, where Samuel himself is being asked to turn the page—both in his own life and in the life of Israel. If you've ever felt stuck in your story, this passage offers three honest, hopeful ways forward.
1. Turn the page on mourning
The chapter opens with God's pointed question:
"The LORD said to Samuel, ‘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)
Samuel had invested deeply in Saul—like a spiritual son. When Saul failed and was rejected as king, Samuel grieved. And grief is not the problem. Mourning is a natural, healthy response to loss; it's actually a sign that we loved something. But God's question reveals that mourning, while necessary, is meant to have an ending. Here are three ways to move through it well:
Let mourning be seasonal. Ecclesiastes reminds us there is "a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance" (Ecclesiastes 3:4). No season lasts forever. Avoid both extremes—rushing through grief so you never truly heal, and sitting in it so long that you never move on.
Don't let mourning isolate you. Paul writes, "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn" (Romans 12:15). Some burdens are too heavy to carry alone. This is one reason God created the church—not just an event to attend, but a community to belong to.
After mourning, get moving. God told Samuel to fill his horn and go. Romans 8:28 promises that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." God doesn't waste your past; He can use even painful chapters to prepare the next one.
A gentle caveat: if you're in the middle of fresh grief, this is not a command to rush. Let the Spirit show you where you are and what step comes next.
2. Turn the page on being superficial
When Samuel arrives at Jesse's house, he sees the impressive oldest son and assumes he's the one. God corrects him:
"Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)
Saul had looked the part—tall and handsome. Samuel was still measuring by the old standard. But God cares far more about the heart, the seat of our thoughts, desires, and emotions, than about how we appear. Jesus reserved His sharpest words for the Pharisees, calling them hypocrites and "whitewashed tombs"—clean on the outside, dead within. The honest question isn't "How do you look?" but "How is your heart?"
And here's the good news: you cannot change your own heart by willpower or technique. You need a new nature. God promises, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26). That transformation comes through faith in Jesus—and it's ongoing. Even David, "a man after God's own heart," prayed after his failure, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10). We call on Christ to renew our hearts not once, but daily.
3. Turn the page toward His powerful presence
Finally, Samuel anoints the overlooked shepherd boy:
"So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David." (1 Samuel 16:13)
In the Old Testament, the Spirit came upon people. In the New Testament, believers in Jesus receive something greater—the Spirit dwelling within us. That presence empowers us in at least three ways:
To overcome sin. "Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16). Fighting sin in your own strength is like bringing a butter knife to a gunfight. Walking by the Spirit means staying in step with Him—moment by moment doing the next right thing He shows you.
To share the gospel. "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses" (Acts 1:8). A witness simply says, "Here's what Jesus did in my life—and He can do it in yours." Often what holds us back isn't a lack of knowledge but a lack of love that overcomes fear.
To be secure in your salvation. God "anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come" (2 Corinthians 1:21–22). The Spirit within you is God's guarantee—heaven is not a maybe; it's a promise.
Your story isn't over
If the current chapter feels like a dead end, remember it isn't the end. The author of life was crucified and rose again three days later so that a new chapter could be written in your story. The question isn't whether you can get to the next chapter—it's whether you'll trust Christ to take you there.
A reflection question
What page have you been re-reading for too long—a season of mourning, a habit of pretending, or a sense of powerlessness? Ask the Spirit to show you the next faithful step, then take it.
If you're anywhere in the Tri-Valley and you're looking for a community where people genuinely know Jesus and want to grow, we'd love to meet you at Arroyo Church here in Livermore. Come as you are—there's a next chapter waiting.