Encouraged

I Samuel 30:6c – …but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

What a wonderful phrase we have here in God’s word, yet it comes after a very difficult time in David’s life. David and his men had just been sent home before a fight was to happen and as they head home they see a horrific scence. Their city has been burned to the ground and everything they own had been taken; their wives, their children, their animals, everything was taken by the Amalekites. David and his men were overwhelmed with greif and dispair. Scripture says that David was greatly distressed and that his men wanted to stone him because the soul of the men were grieved. They wept and cried out and wept some more until they could not weep anymore. The pain was unbearable and worse yet the men turned and blamed David and wanted him dead. Then out of the blue we have our beautiful phrase, … but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

Everything that David had was taken from him! Great grief struck his soul and yet in all this turmoil and struggles David put His eyes on God. How could David do this? How could David not keep from sounding like the men and looking to lay blame on something else? He encouraged himself in the LORD. David took the time to grieve and cry but he knew the only one who could heal the pain was GOD. God is the only one who has the power to heal our brokeness and give us the strength to go on when we all has been lost.

After David encouraged himself in the Lord, he went to God in prayer and asked if he should go after the Amalekites. God said yes and that they would get everything back. David got up and got the men going and they went and for one whole day they destroyed the Amalekite army.

So when we face a big struggle, an overwhelming situation, a great grief, remember: ENCOURAGE YOURSELF IN THE LORD YOUR GOD!

Pastor Chris