After Rehoboam’s position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the Lord.
2 Chronicles 12:1 NIV
Why is it that after God establishes someone, bringing them into stability, strength, and answered prayers, they so easily begin to forget God? This unsettling tendency isn’t new. From ancient kings to modern believers, history reveals a pattern: when desperation gives way to comfort, our dependence on God often weakens. The fervent prayers once whispered in the quiet place begin to fade, and slowly, the heart grows distant.
King Rehoboam’s story in 2 Chronicles 12:1 offers a sobering example. How tragic. He abandoned the very God who lifted him into kingship, who strengthened his hands and secured his reign. When the need seemed less urgent, so too did his devotion.
Rehoboam did not ascend by his own ability. He did not become king through his own strategy or strength. It was the Lord who placed him on the throne. And yet, once his position felt secure, he chose to walk away. He allowed himself to believe he had ‘arrived’, that he had received all he needed from God. But what he misunderstood—what many of us misunderstand—is that God does not merely establish us to leave us self-sufficient. He strengthens us so that we might continue to grow in Him.
The moment we forget God, we start to decline. Strength is not the destination; it is the starting point for deeper dependence. Rehoboam became strong, but he failed to realise that there was a stronger, wiser, more obedient version of himself that God still longed to form. God may have established him to be king, but he did not see that greater challenges lay ahead—challenges that would require a deeper walk with the Lord.
Being established is not an invitation to relax our spiritual pursuit; it is a call to remain steadfast. To assume we can retain what God has given us while drifting from His presence is to walk in dangerous presumption. We are not kept by our gifts, intelligence, or experience. We are preserved by the One who gave us those gifts in the first place.
When we forget God, we unknowingly invite decline. What was once vibrant in our spiritual lives can grow dull. What once bore fruit may start to wither. The decline is often subtle, so gradual that we may not even notice until we are far from where we once stood.
Scripture gently but firmly warns us of this danger: “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). Rehoboam’s downfall wasn’t sudden. It began with forgetfulness. The same pattern can unfold in our lives if we allow comfort to replace communion.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. God establishes us so we can walk even more closely with Him, not less. He strengthens us so we can serve with greater devotion, grow in maturity, and fulfil His purpose more effectively. The success He gives is not a stopping point but an opportunity to deepen our intimacy with Him.
Living It Out
Have you found your passion for God waning in seasons of stability? Have the blessings caused you to ease up in your pursuit of Him?
Let this be a gentle reminder: the God who raised you is the only One who can sustain you. Do not forget God in times of strength. Draw nearer. Seek Him not only when you’re in need, but also when you are thriving. Let success lead you to greater surrender, not spiritual complacency. Stay rooted. Stay close. He is your source—always.