Remember your last really bad day? A day where you came home feeling like you’d lost everything?
King David, a man after God’s own heart, had them too.
In 1 Samuel 30:1-6 we see David’s story beginning with a great day. He is returning victoriously, leading his celebrating troops home to their families. Imagine the feasts that will be hosted in their honor! Imagine their wives and children running to embrace them! Imagine the history that will be recorded, detailing their heroic deeds.
Yes, David was excited to go home, excited over the recent victory, excited to be honored by his men for his excellent leadership. Life couldn’t be better until… they returned home.
What did they find?
Destruction.
Devastation.
Despair.
David’s world flipped just like that. The smoldering ashes were all that remained where humble homes once stood with a candle burning in the window.
Beautiful wives and precious children who brought life’s joy were gone, stolen from their havens.
Any and all worldly possessions, plundered.
As David surveyed the massive mess which remained, a low grumbling reached his ears.
The men who’d honored him with all they had just moments before now burned with hatred toward him, blaming him for their tremendous, tragic loss.
David no longer garnered the respect of his men.
David no longer possessed the love of his marriage.
David no longer had the hope of his children.
David no longer claimed the wealth of his possessions.
David’s plight would prescribe pain, powerlessness, and a pushing down of his spirit to the point of death.
Maybe you can relate. When life totally turns on you and you believe everything is lost. There’s no way to fix it. There’s nothing left to do or say.
Yet, it’s definitely time to pray.
Amazingly, David didn’t give up. Verse 6 tells us, “David found strength in the Lord.”
David knew when all else failed here on earth, he wouldn’t be destitute.
He still had God.
And God is enough.
David prayed. He asked God if he would be victorious in retrieving their wives and children.
He didn’t leap into a revenge mission while emotions were high and logic was low.
He stopped and consulted with God. Because talking with God was his knee-jerk reaction.
Because God was first in his life, the loss of his family, his people, his home and his wealth didn’t devastate him.
Loss is difficult. It can be grievous. It can feel unbearable.
David illustrates incredibly what we must learn to do: carry it straight to the One who can bear that burden.
David’s story doesn’t end with grief.
God took him and his men into battle and like knights in shining armor, they reclaimed all that was stolen from them.
Through God’s strength.
We can ask God to strengthen our faith for today, tomorrow and the future. We can pray for a faith where our knee-jerk reaction to tragedy is to turn to God.
We can live lives that are faith-filled, trusting God, depending on God, when everything else is lost.
Thank you Father for Your faithfulness, Your promise to never leave me nor forsake me. Please build my faith like David’s here. In Jesus’ name, Amen.