His Plans or Mine? When Getting What You Want Isn’t What You Need.

Have you ever desperately wanted something, only to be disappointed once you finally got it?

Maybe it didn’t live up to the hype. Maybe the excitement faded faster than expected. Whether it’s a new gadget, a long-anticipated event, or even a significant life decision, we’ve all had moments where the thing we thought would satisfy us... simply didn’t.

It turns out this isn’t a new struggle. The Israelites had the same issue thousands of years ago.

In 1 Samuel 8, we find a sobering story of misplaced desires. God’s people were fixated on one thing: a king. They wanted to be like the other nations. Samuel, God’s prophet, was getting old, and his sons—who were supposed to carry on his leadership—were corrupt. So the people asked for a king instead. On the surface, it seemed like a reasonable request.

But Scripture says the request “displeased Samuel.”

Why?

Because Samuel knew this wasn’t just about political structure—it was a spiritual rejection. God told him plainly, “They have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them” (1 Samuel 8:7).

God had always intended Israel to be unique. They weren’t supposed to be like the other nations. God Himself was their King. He was their Judge. He was the One who fought their battles.

But they wanted something different. Something tangible. Something visible. Something... ordinary.

And so, God told Samuel to warn them: A king will take your sons for war, your daughters for labor, your land, your livestock, and your wealth. And worst of all? When you cry out because of the burden, “the Lord will not answer you in that day” (v. 18).

You’d think the people would reconsider.

But no. They doubled down. “No, but there shall be a king over us,” they insisted.

Why? They gave three reasons:

“That we may be like all the nations.”

But God had called them to be set apart. To be different. To reflect His character.

“That our king may judge us.”

They didn’t trust God’s justice because of human failure. But it was God who appointed the judges in the first place.

“That our king may go out before us and fight our battles.”

They forgot the parting of the Red Sea, the fall of Jericho, the countless times when God Himself had fought for them.

It’s easy to judge them. But are we really that different?

I see it in my own life. I watch my two-year-old son grab for a toy just because someone else has it. Never mind the pile of toys around him—he wants that one. But if I’m honest, I do the same. I see what others have and start to feel like what I have isn’t enough. Discontent creeps in. Gratitude fades.

And like Israel, I start thinking I know what’s best for me—forgetting that God already had a plan.

So often, we’re tempted to replace God’s will with our own, assuming that what we want will be better. But here’s the truth: even our most well-thought-out plans can lead to regret if they replace what God intended.

Israel’s story is a cautionary tale. They got what they wanted—and it became a burden.

Be careful what you demand.

Sometimes the most gracious thing God does is say no.

Instead of chasing what looks good, ask:

What has God already provided?

What promises have I forgotten?

Is what I want aligned with what God wants for me?

Because in the end, what God offers is far better than anything we could try to substitute.