At some point in your life, you have probably had to say, “Well, I assumed…” It’s really hard to live life without making some assumptions. Assumptions are not always wrong. However, the consequences of wrong assumptions can be disappointing at best and devastating at worst. Author Steve Cuss wrote, “Assumptions are the way we make meaning out of something we think we know but do not actually know…and some of us are Olympic-level long jumpers in our ability to leap to false conclusions.” When our assumptions are an illusion, our decisions become disconnected from reality. Cuss also wrote, “Assumptions are contagious…and when we catch and spread assumptions, things can quickly escalate.” We see this often in the Bible. Remember the spies that went to investigate the Promised Land? They assumed that they were no match for the giants and the military might that was present. It didn’t take long for the people to “catch” their assumption and start to fear. When we make assumptions and leave God out, we are at risk of creating situations we may regret. In our Bible passage this coming Sunday, we’ll see how an ungodly assumption committed the nation to a path of loss. It wasn’t immediate, but eventually what Samuel said would happen did in fact happen. Be the first person to challenge your own assumptions. Seek clarity in prayer and conversation. Never forget to include God in your calculations.