How to Bounce Back
Today’s Verse:
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
David was in a very bad predicament. The Amalekites had invaded the town of Ziklag while David and his men were away. The town was burnt, and the women and children were taken alive as captives. When David and his men saw this, they were greatly distressed and besides themselves. The men went from sadness to anger, and they immediately blamed David for this terrible situation. They even spoke of stoning him! What do you do when everyone is blaming you for a problem that looks almost impossible to solve? David encouraged himself in the Lord! Let’s consider how David bounced back from a distressing situation.
He made a resolve.
This resolve was to get out of the place of distress and determine that God would help David through this. He had to dig very deep within himself to find the inner strength to not stay discouraged. It is always easier to remain discouraged than to come out of it. He had to let go of a defeated attitude and have faith in God. He had to let go of his pride of being his own problem solver and let God arise on his behalf. In order to bounce back, we must have resolve.
He made a request.
David asked Abiathar the priest to bring forth the ephod by which he inquired of God what to do. He asked the Lord for help, and he committed this entire situation to God for intervention. He requested something that seemed impossible! By the way, that is what prayer is: it is asking God to do something that you cannot do! He told the Lord that he was sorry that he tried to solve things on his own and that he now would give the entire problem and its eventual solution to Him. In order to bounce back, we must make a bold request to the Lord for our needs.
He took responsibility.
David reassumed leadership of the matter. He took responsibility for the problem and for getting back the women and children. He showed leadership and direction for getting them back. He showed great faith in God and demonstrated a Spirit-filled direction. The problem no longer had him down. In doing so, the Lord led him to find an Egyptian slave who had been left for dead by the Amalekites. David and his men showed kindness to this man, and because of this, he showed them where they could find the women and children. In order to bounce back, we must take responsibility for our problem.
He made a recoupment.
God gave David and his men a blessed recoupment of the women and children. He recovered all! In addition, his faith and trust in God also resulted in them taking back the spoils of victory, including the livestock and foods of the Amalekites. Faith enabled them to come back with more than they had expected. In order to bounce back, we must not settle for less than the best. We must decide to recover all as David did.
There was rejoicing.
Families were reunited! The men took back more than enough to compensate for what was lost in the fire. David’s leadership was rewarded. In all of this, David encouraged himself in the Lord! He had faith to believe that God would make a way!
Don’t let discouragement get the best of you. Follow the steps of David and encourage yourself in the Lord. Where there is a problem, God will make a way for you! You can always bounce back!
Have an encouraged God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Luke 14-16