Daily Devotions
July 14th, 2023 by Pastor Solley1 Sam 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
KJV
The answer for David when he was greatly distressed was to encourage himself in the Lord. O how easy it is to get discouraged, depressed and distressed today as we face the trials of life and we all face them. What to do in those times? Some question if God is with them. Others become angry and bitter towards the Lord. Some may just give up and wish to die. In the Bible we see all of those emotions and more in those who were men and women of faith. Elijah requested that he die, Jeremiah gave up the office of prophet, Peter decided to return to his fishing business. None of those reactions brought relief to those ones. What did David do? David encouraged himself in the Lord his God by getting closer to the Lord, by praying more, by worship. In the next two verses we find David getting closer to the Lord. (1 Sam 30:7-8 And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David. 8 And David inquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.) When we are greatly distressed it is time we do the same. The temptation we face will be to give up, to sulk, to be bitter, to question God and none of those things will bring the relief we need. But when we encourage ourselves in the Lord our God we will find ourselves being lifted above the trials of this life just like David.