There are some moments in life you are left alone—deserted by friends and family. Those are moments everyone blames you. And you have no one to turn to for comfort or support.
David faced numerous such situations in life. But in none was he left alone like the situation he found himself in Ziklag. All the wives, sons and daughters in their camp were taken captive. Their camp itself was burned down. David and his men wept aloud until they had no more strength to weep.
Then came the toughest moment of all. The men were talking of stoning David. Imagine your own friends, fiercely loyal to you and knowing that God had made you their leader, suddenly turn against you. Ah, David was greatly distressed in spirit because of this! Their rage against him was intense because each one of them was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters.
What could David do? The Bible says, “But David found strength in the LORD his God” (1 Samuel 30:6z). Not only did he encourage himself in the Lord, he sought God’s guidance immediately.
Here are two lessons we should never forget. One, no situation in your life, however hopeless it seems; and how much without human aid it actually is, is beyond God’s willingness or power to help.
Two, your duty in such situations is to remind yourself that God is faithful, that he has absolute authority and control over your situation, that he will never forsake you, and that he is always for you. It is in this reminding yourself of who God is and what he is to you that helps you find strength in God.
Again, seek God’s will and guidance in prayer. The costly mistake believers make is that they turn away from God and do not seek God in prayer looking at the hopelessness of the situation. See, it is when your situation is desperate that you should cling more to God than any time else!
In this particular situation, God in answer to David’s prayer for guidance, gave them victory over their enemies. And it is written that “David recovered everything (30:18, 19).” That is an unbelievable and amazing turnaround.
Are you facing a hopeless situation in your life today? Is everyone against you? Let it be. Your task is to make sure that God is with you. That alone is more than enough. Never forget to find strength in your God.
And one afterthought: Do not wait for crises in life to connect with God. It is very clear that David had a strong and abiding relationship with God that made him “a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22).” Therefore, and only on that platform was he able to find strength in God during this great crisis in life.
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Insight
Can you ignore your child when he or she concedes and starts crying in real distress? God is closer to the broken hearted too. That is one sure shot way to get access to God.