"Are you sure you want me, God?"

It was starting to become too much. I groped for a chair to sit in and ease my swimming head. The room was spinning, and I could feel my eyes widen and dilate and my brow furrow. This is all a bit too overwhelming right now. My tongue dried up and the lump in my throat rendered me speechless. I opened my mouth to protest and question my ability, but all I could manage was a humiliating whimper. That was just one more proof that I was not man enough—old or wise enough—for this task. Not yet.
Dad finally broke from his instructions. He probably saw my bewilderment like a child lost in the crowd. He changed direction, tried a new tactic. I suddenly felt like he was pepping me up for one of my decathlon races. “Be strong, son! Face this task with confident courage. There’s no need to fear or despair because I’ve taken care of half of the work. You have everything you need by God’s sovereign provision. Besides, you aren’t building this temple on your own. The Lord has raised many skilled workers: carpenters, masons, iron workers…The Lord is with you, Solomon. Trust and seek the Lord and everything will be fine.” He kept telling me that I was the one Yahweh had chosen, so, naturally, I will be empowered to carry out the task of building His temple. Father wanted to build it for a long time, but God forbade him because he had shed so much blood in war. That is why I’ve been commissioned for the work.
Air is flowing more easily into my lungs, now. Dad is recounting the hundreds of times when the Lord showed His protection when he was a boy shepherd: when he wrestled the bear and the lion and defeated Goliath. Tears roll down my cheeks as I listen in amazement to Father’s miraculous escapes from King Saul’s attempt to kill him. We laughed together about the time the mighty Arameans took one look at Dad’s army and ran away, leaving their swords behind in a crazed fear. Dad could have left it at that, but to make sure they wouldn’t return, he and his men caught up with them and took about 47,000 lives—including their commander, Shophach.
I am really going to miss these moments with Dad. He wasn’t perfect, by any means, but he really knows the power of God and I can find strength in that. He is a rough man but still a shepherd boy at heart. Jehovah must be the same. He is certainly the Almighty God, but as a good shepherd, He is a great leader and protector of His sheep. As long as I look to Him, everything will be just fine, just like Dad said. Bring out the cedar and silver, and let’s build this temple!
~See 1 Chronicles 21

PS: Although this is a rendition of what might have happened with Solomon as David spoke to him about becoming king, I seem to go through this scene at least once a week. I'm sorry I'm low on pictures. I just can't figure this silly thing out! :(