Her life as a princess was far from a fairytale, yet it seemed as if her dreams were about to come true! Michal had known David most of her life. Listening to melodies from David’s heart had calmed her father’s spirit. Yet David was not just around the palace for King Saul, he was her brother Jonathan’s best friend!

Over the years, Michal had fallen deeply in love with David, yet she knew she did not have a choice in marriage. King Saul would offer her to one who would bring security to his kingdom. Michal wanted David. Though it was a shot in the dark, one quiet evening, Michal declared to her father her love for David. To her surprise, King Saul was delighted!

Little did she know King Saul had been looking for an opportunity to get to David, and Michal might be just the thing! With David’s popularity, King Saul felt threatened. He worked through a plan to get rid of David once and for all! Setting the bride price at 100 men, King Saul asked for proof that David had killed 100 Philistines. Hoping he would be killed in the fight, King Saul was surprised not only of David’s return but the needed proof of not just 100 but 200 Philistine men! With no other choice, Michal was given in marriage, making her dreams come true!

Early on, Michal began to understand the dynamics with her father. Continuing his plans to kill David, King Saul now had access into David’s home. With King Saul’s murderous plot revealed one night, Michal quickly lowers David down through a window for his escape. She deceives her father to save her husband, losing her husband in the process. Michal’s dreams of happiness start to fade.

Estrangement with King Saul kept David hiding, and King Saul continued to use Michal to strengthen his kingdom. He took her from David and gave her in marriage to a man named Paltiel. Finding life with Paltiel far different, Michal felt deeply loved for the first time. The happiness she found was short-lived as she was torn away from Paltiel and her new home, because of an alliance between David and Abner. Maybe David had missed her after all!

Sitting in the palace, the days went by, and Michal slowly realized David was no different from her father. The hope of a return to the devoted love they once shared was replaced by the knowledge she was a pawn for David, just as she had been to her father. Thoughts began to fester with sadness and despair turning to anger. Bitterness filled her soul. A lifetime of being used had taken its toll. It was all so unfair! Never having a say in her life choices, Michal had always been used as a political tool to strengthen her father and her husband’s national alliances.

Day after day she brooded in her palace room until one morning, the notes of lyres, harps, tambourines, and cymbals floated up to her window. She looked down and could not believe what she saw!

“When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she was filled with contempt for him… When David returned home to bless his own family, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. She said in disgust, ‘How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!’” (2 Samuel 6:16b, 20)

The fairytale had come to an end, and all Michal’s dreams came crashing down. At her rebuke, David declared that his actions were in honor to the Lord. From that time on, David no longer treated her as his wife. Bitterness and loss destroyed her happily ever after. The relationship had come to an end.

As a princess, Michal had no control over her life. She was used for the advantage of others. Nothing in her life was fair. Though she did not have control over her life, she did have a choice in how she responded to the unfairness of her life. Michal chose a path of bitterness instead of trusting God in her journey.

Maybe the road you are walking is unfair. Choices have been made for you that you would never have chosen. Your life has been turned upside down in a matter of minutes because of the decisions of others. Life can seem so unfair and utterly out of our control.

You have a choice. You can choose to allow the sadness and despair to fester in your heart leading to bitterness, or you can choose Jesus. Focusing on Him instead of your situation, you will find grace and wisdom, peace where there is no understanding, and joy in His presence.

Even when your dreams fade away and life is not what you thought it would be, you will find the uphill journey does not matter. Faded dreams turn into the reality of walking with Jesus, which is greater than any dream could ever be. Maybe the unfairness you saw in your life is the very thing that brought you to your greatest joy in life, Jesus. When life all around you feels unfair, make the best choice – seek Jesus.