But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God

1 Samuel 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.

The situation upon which David came was a distressing circumstance. His town had been burned with fire, and his precious wife had been taken. It could not have been worse. The Amalekites had invaded the south, and burned Ziklag with fire. He had seemingly lost everything. Furthermore, the men who were with him, having lost their possessions and families as well, spake of stoning him! It seemed as though all were against him, and no one on his side. The soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters. This seemed to be David’s fault, for he had led his men to the land of the Philistines, as he had found himself helping Achish, King of Gath. Achish gave him Ziklag, but while they were away from Ziklag, it was invaded by the Amalekites. This weighed heavily on David, as he would have taken a great responsibility for these things, and therefore, was greatly distressed.

Now, being distressed can render a person anemic, and can drain them of all vitality and usefulness. It can take all strength away. Surely, David wanted to simply give up the fight, and was so discouraged that he had no strength left in him. But when he got to this critical moment, David understood that there was still a place he could go to find strength, in fact, supernatural strength. In this most distressing circumstance that took all his own power and strength from him, David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. He did not sit and whine, or lie and sulk, but he went immediately to God.

Dear friend, the most critical times in our lives often are the most distressing times. Because it will show what we are made of. It will uncover what is the warp and woof of our being. Are we ready to go to the Lord in distress, or do we have the propensity to wallow in self-pity and stress? For at those low moments, we must look upward to the Lord, and find encouragement in Him. There are times in which there is no one available, no one present, no one within our circle or in our life, that can bring encouragement. But, my friend, Christ is always there to lift you up! He is always there to bring you fresh guidance! He is always there to bolster you in discouragement, and rally you in your stressful moment. Please do not give up; please do not stay in discouragement, fear, and doubt, but encourage yourself in the Lord your God!

One more thing ought to be said. David went straightway to Abiathar the priest, and requested the ephod to be brought forth, at which he would enquire what the will of the Lord was. And it was only after he heard from the Lord that he should pursue after the troop that he recovered all of his own possessions and of the men that were with him. David understood that he must go to the Lord and ask immediately what the next step should be. And to you, beloved, I exhort that we should always go to the Lord in distress and not others. I exhort that we should ask Him what is the way, and walk in it. For He knows what is best when our minds are clouded with discouragement, distress, and despondency. And we will only have the strength and fortitude of mind to enquire at the Lord if we have learned how to encourage ourselves in the Lord our God. Are you discouraged? Are you distressed? Is your soul grieved? Do you need direction, guidance, and answers for your life’s difficulties? First of all, before any steps are taken, you must encourage yourself in the Lord your God! Because only then will your spirit come again, and you will have the new strength to seek the Lord and find His answer. My friend, even now, encourage yourself in the Lord your God!

“Father, we thank Thee that Thou dost see us in our lowest and most discouraging state. Our simple prayer today is that Thou wouldst strengthen us with supernatural strength in those moments as we go to Thee for encouragement. Please encourage us this day in the Lord our God that we may know how to seek Thee and how to find Thee. That we may have the renewed energy to take the next step you have laid out for us. That we may have the ability to see your working in our lives even through the discouragement. Help us to go to none other but Thee. How we need Thine encouragement! How we need Thy renewal! We ask for it in faith now, trusting fully in Thee for this thing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”