"Your Response"

"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." 1 Samuel 30:6

There come times in all of our lives when we face problems, troubles, dark days, overwhelming circumstances, distress, grief and pain. No one is exempt- no matter how closely we may walk to the Lord. When we face them, there will always be a response to them. The question is, "What will your response be?" Will it be to "blame God" for the problem? Will it be to get bitter and angry? Will the response be to close yourself off and shut out the rest of the world? Will it be to try to "pick yourself up"?

There is only one response to the troubles that we face that will make us victorious and successful in them-- "but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God". You have to learn how to encourage yourself in the Lord- that's your response. We encourage ourselves in the Lord by praying- talk to Him about the situation. We encourage ourselves in Him through His written word- read and meditate on His promises. And we encourage ourselves in Him by remembering- remembering that He loves us, that He is faithful, that He is all powerful and by remembering what He has done for us in the past. I have a feeling that at this distressful place in His life, David remembered how God had delivered him from the lion, the bear, Goliath, King Saul and saved him in every other battle he had fought. As he remembered God's faithfulness he was encouraged because he knew that the Lord does not change and if He was faithful to him then, He will still be faithful to him now in this situation.

Take time today to think about, and examine, how you respond to times like these. Is your response one that encourages yourself in the Lord or something else? There is only one way to respond to trying times if we expect to walk in victory over them instead of being buried by them.

Have a great day. Encourage yourself in the Lord.

For further reading:
Psalm 119:52; 36:5