…but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. I Samuel 30:6b (KJV)
I’ve always found this verse from I Samuel intriguing. While David and his motley crew were off doing battle, their camp had been attacked, and all the women and children had been taken away. Things were so bad that his own men were speaking of stoning him. David had nowhere to turn.
I doubt that any of us has ever been in such a desperate situation, but we may feel at one time or another that we have no place to turn. Everyone has forsaken us, and there’s no help in sight.
Look at what David did: he encouraged himself—in the Lord. He didn’t give up because there was no shoulder to cry on, no counselor to give wise advice. He went straight to God for encouragement. He knew his help was in the Lord, that God was his strong fortress, and that he could run to him and find safety.
If we’ve ever confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord and that the Holy Spirit lives in us, we, too, will always find a place of safety whatever the crisis. We can cry out to God and expect his comfort and find encouragement in him. If we’ve been put in a solitary place for a time, we really have all we need in the Lord. He will sustain; he will lift; he will guide; and he will protect. All we need do is go to him.
So, what happened to David? He went directly to the Lord who, as always, provided guidance. David pursued his enemies, at God’s direction, and all that had been taken was recovered. Because David encouraged himself in the Lord.
Father, how often do we rush elsewhere for help when all we have to do is turn to you? Forgive us for our shortsightedness and draw us to your side that we may glorify you. In Jesus name. AMEN.
agodforeveryday 