Jump Start # 366

1 Samuel 30:6 “Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”

  Our passage comes from one of the dark times in David’s life. He seemed to have several. His life was not easy, but it was a life of faith. Saul was the king of Israel. He was losing control of the nation and his mind. He was determined to kill David and he chased him throughout the country side. David and his men hide in the land of the Philistines for a while. The Philistines do not trust David. While all of this is happening, the Amalekites make a raid and capture the wives and children of David and his men. They were already weary and now this.

  Verse 4 states, “Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep.” They didn’t know if they would see their families again. How would this small band of men fight the Amalekite army?

  In utter defeat David’s army becomes angry and they turn on David. They threaten to kill David. They blamed him for what happened. David became the easy target. Now another layer of problems is added to David’s heart. He becomes greatly distressed.

  Our passage reminds us that “David strengthened himself.” What a powerful thought! David encouraged himself. David got his heart and mind back where it should be.

  Problems have a powerful way of defeating us. Problems don’t wait for each other, like airplanes in line waiting to take off. Often problems come from several directions all at once. David had problems with his enemies and he had problems with his own men and he had problems with the Amalekites. That’s enough to make anyone discouraged.

  Discouragement is something that many go through. It is very similar to letting the air out of a balloon. The energy and motivation are gone. Thoughts are depressing. The mood is blue. We can be depressed about our marriage, situations at church, what’s going on at work, issues in the family or what often happens, all of those at once.  And when we are discouraged we simply don’t feel like doing anything. Our hearts are not in it anymore.

  For many of us, we get our encouragement from others. A passionate church service, a moving song service, a great lesson, encouraging brethren all have a great way of reminding us and connecting us back with the Lord. But what happens when we stand where David stood? Those around us are embittered, discouraged and quitting. Our passage says that “David strengthened himself…”

  David found the means to encourage himself. He didn’t get it from others. It didn’t come from his family or his friends. He encouraged himself. Sometimes we wait for the church to encourage us and it doesn’t. Sometimes we expect others to pull us out of the ditch but they are in the ditch themselves. David knew how to strengthen himself.

  This passage has been a great help to me through the years. As a preacher you are suppose to be the spark plug for the church. There are days when that ole’ spark plug has lost it’s spark. The lessons are flat. The ideas have run dry. Problems abound. The spirit goes south. You drift from being in a funk to being discouraged. Thoughts of quitting run through your mind. Thoughts of moving enter your heart. You can’t think of anyone to talk to because every name that you think of has their own problem. Boy, been there and done that!

  David strengthened himself! Don’t wait for others to encourage you, let the Lord do it. How? Drop to your knees and pray like you have never prayed. Spend some time in the Psalms or walking with David or better yet, the Lord. See what they went through. See what they did. Remember, God is counting on you and so are others. There’s a work to be done. Nehemiah had to find ways to keep the spirits of his people up as they faced the challenge of building and fighting enemies.

  Strengthening yourself is not some self help, new age, the power is within you concept. Not at all. The power is in the Lord. The help is in the Lord. Instead of someone else plugging you back in, you plug yourself. The help comes from God. This is more than thinking positive thoughts. This is more than not dwelling on the bad. This is getting back to what God wants us to be doing. This is about being a child of God in the midst of a broken, busted and defeated world. Discouragement takes hold when all we see are the problems. It controls us when we give up on God or forget about God. Strengthening comes back when we return to God. When we realize that God is bigger than our problems. When as Paul said, “I can do all things through Him who STRENGTHENS me” (Phil 4:13). Discouragement unplugs us from God. Encouragement plugs us back in.

  Encouragement is oxygen to our souls. Encouragement is positive and catching. It is hopeful and resourceful. Encouragement is based upon faith.

  Don’t give up. Don’t let the problems get the best of you. You may be waiting for others to pull you out and they can’t or won’t. Strengthen yourself. Stand upon what you know is right. Return to the Scriptures. Seek the Lord in all that you do. Get about the Lord’s business.

  These thoughts are needed in times like these. Churchill said, “Don’t ever give up!”

Roger