70 He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens;
71 from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance.
72 And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them. Psalm 78:70-72

Everyone likes to hear the story of how David was chosen. He could have easily have been classified as the “Least Likely to Be A King” as he grew up. An interesting point this passage makes is David’s formative years as a shepherd. That’s a side of David we don’t hear about often. Those shepherd years taught David how to tend and discipline sheep, lead them to grass and water, sometimes coaxing them with his stick, sometimes playfully chasing after them.

The Prophet Nathan also used shepherding language to rebuke David for his sins. Even after He had been king for years, he had the heart and mindset of a shepherd in spite of his sin.

God has you at a place right now that you may not like or enjoy. Like David, you are training for something bigger, but you have to do well what you’re doing now. It’s not just boredom or meaningless nothing. It’s your training ground.

Welcome it. Enjoy it. And praise God for it.