‘Can we remain confident in God’s love and His purpose for our lives when crisis looms or disaster strikes?’
The Day David Lost Everything
(1 Sam 30)
If anyone ever had cause to believe that God had abandoned him during a time of crisis, it was David.
David returned with his men to their hometown Ziklag, to find it had been attacked, looted, and burned by Amalekite raiders. Their wives, children and possessions had been captured and taken away by their enemy. (1 Sam 30:3)
The Bible tells us that David and his men cried aloud until they had no more strength to weep.
And then, seeking a place to lay blame as grief turned to rage over the loss of their families, David’s men turned on him. They began to talk of stoning him in retaliation.
It had to have been one of the worst days in David’s life.
These dire circumstances had arisen from a leadership decision that David had made, which resulted in his men being away from their families during the time of the attack. It appeared that he had failed to protect his own.
He could have given up.
But instead, David’s response resulted in a breakthrough—the recovery of their families and possessions and the destruction of their enemies. It also helped position David for his ascent to the throne of Israel.
How did this incredible turnabout in circumstances happen? And what can we learn from this Bible account when faced with our own crises?
4 Things you can do in Times of Crisis
1. Don’t Cover up the Pain.
‘All my longings lie open before you, O Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you.’ Ps 38:9
David wept—he expressed his grief and anguish and let it all out.
One of the things we learn from David’s Psalms is that we can be completely honest before God. The Psalms teach us that we can ask God the hard questions, cry out our pain, and even express our doubts and rage.
But the Psalms do not stop there, and neither did David at this time.
2. Choose to Trust in God and Find Strength in Him
At this lowest point, we are told that David ‘found strength in the Lord His God.’ (1 Sam 30:6)
David held to the truth that God was still present with Him—that he had not been abandoned.
When we are faced with trials, danger, natural disasters or even spiritual warfare, God is with us. He is our Father. When we have no strength left of our own—He is our source of strength.
This is the ultimate test of trust.
David was overcome with grief, but instead of allowing his feelings to dictate his response, he chose at that time to turn to God.
Trust is not a feeling; it is not something that we need to look within ourselves to supply.
Trust is based on the sure knowledge that God is completely trustworthy.
David wrote in the Psalms, ‘The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.’ (Ps 18:2)
3. Ask God Questions and Find out what He is Saying
David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.” (1 Sam 30:8)
Does evidence seem to point to God having abandoned you? To His destiny for your life not being fulfilled? Are people around you, like David’s men, expressing a negative opinion?
David did not respond to the talk of his men; he did not respond to his feelings or the circumstances he was presented with. He responded to the word of God.
When faced with a crisis, we can ask
- What is the truth in God’s Word—the Bible—that I need to believe about who I am, and about who God to me right at this time?
The next question is
- Father, what is Your specific word to me right now?
Through Jesus, we have a personal relationship with God and He wants to speak with us.
Take time to listen. [1]
4. Remember who you are and Whose you are—and Respond Accordingly
During a time of crisis, it is time to dig deep and rediscover the foundations of our own history with God.
It is time to remember the call, the gifts, and the grace in our lives.
We know that David did that because his response to this trial came out of the gift and anointing God had given to him from the very beginning.
We see that he responded firstly as a worshipper, then as a leader, and then as a warrior.
Perhaps he remembered protecting his sheep from the lion and the bear. Maybe he recalled slaying Goliath with a stone and the word of God—or the times God had rescued him from Saul and his armies.
David’s own history told him that even though the odds against him were great, they were no match for God and His word.
David took 600 men with him to pursue the enemy. When he had to leave 200 behind who were too exhausted to continue, the odds against him increased yet again.
But they not only succeeded in overcoming the enemy, they regained their families and possessions and a great deal more—all the plunder the Amalekites had captured from other places.
When a crisis hits, take time to reflect on what God has done for you and through you in the past. He is faithful.
Your Story is not over yet
This crisis not only resulted in a victorious outcome, it came just prior to the fulfillment of the destiny in David’s life.
Ziklag was burned and their homes were destroyed. This was a devastating event. However, David asked God for guidance and was later led to take his men and their families and settle in the city of Hebron.
It was in Hebron that David would be anointed King of Judah, and later of Israel (2 Sam 2:4, 5:3)
Choose God, choose His Word, and you will find that the pathway through the crisis you are currently facing leads to your destiny.
There is another chapter ahead of you.
When problems or disasters take place—as the book of Job reminds us (Job 42:10)—life does not end there. Sometimes, it begins.
Notes:
[1] I have found that journaling is always a great tool to record conversations with God, and this is particularly true in times of testing. To find out more about journaling, these posts may be helpful:
When Your Devotional Life Is Dry: How To Fall In Love With The Bible Again
Activate Your Prophetic Gift Through Prayer Journaling
Related Post:
5 Times You Can Expect to Hear God’s Voice in a Crisis
© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog
Enliven Ministries: In the David McCracken Ministries family
Hi Helen,
Thank You for the encouragement and comfort in your message today, I personally find Writing Poetry to the LORD and about the LORD a great way of expressing myself and encouraging others.
The following Poem I wrote during a painful time in my life.
” SEASONS OF LIFE ”
Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring
To GOD be the Glory in Everything
In Every Season HE is There
Holding Me Close in HIS Tender Loving CARE
Sharing My Heart with JESUS, Calling out to HIM in PRAYER
Knowing HE Hears Every Whisper
Knowing HE Hears Every PRAYER
Today, weather I am in Summer, Autumn, Winter or Spring
I know My JESUS is in Everything
HE Hears My Every Whisper
HE Hears My Every PRAYER
I know that HE LOVES ME DEARLY
And is Holding Me Close in HIS Tender Loving CARE
I Thank You Heavenly Father, You CARE for US, In YOU LORD I Will HOPE and TRUST.
Poem and Prayer By Irene Kyriacou
Psalm 55 verse 22
“Cast Your burden on the LORD, and HE shall sustain You, HE
shall never permit the righteous to be moved “
Irene, thank you for sharing your wonderful poem, I know it will be a great blessing to anyone who reads it. What a tremendous gift to have!
It’s when we go through the difficult times knowing, as you put so beautifully, His nearness to us, that we then have a richness in our life that we can share with others in need.
Thank you for passing on that richness to us.
Great exhortation Helen. The challenge for us all is doing what we know to do in these difficult times. I mean, I know the right thing, but I don’t always do it. But God’s grace even meets us there! God is sooooo good. Thanks for sharing truth so well. Bless ya heaps.
Yes Steve, this has been one of those words that came TO me, but then has gone THROUGH me… I’ve found it pretty challenging. For me personally, I’m the kind of person who values faith and living out of God’s strength, so it’s actually point one that particularly has challenged me. To take the time to stop and be honest about how my soul–heart, mind, will, emotions etc–is responding to a circumstance, before moving on to the faith/word response. It can be too easy to stuff down emotions when in fact it is really important (and part of the healing process) to acknowledge them. After God did create our soul! 🙂
Love the story of David at ZIklag. Just shared with my prayer group this morning about this story. It is the point of convergence in David’s life. Blogged just yesterday on convergence at http://www.yourflourishinglife.wordpress.com
Sad thing is only 20% of us move past convergence. David spent 15 years getting to convergence–his very big crisis–just 24 hours before he was crowned. Big WOW!
— There is so much to learn from this story at Ziklag. So much truth!
Wow, Marlee, such great stuff!
Here’s the full link to the specific article for my readers
http://yourflourishinglife.wordpress.com/2011/02/27/9-steps-to-your-biggest-win/
I particularly love this quote you’ve used,
“Convergence is when emotional events and personal circumstances invade your life so profoundly that you are despairing.”Lance Wallnau, Ph.D
I think we can all identify with these times. Thanks for your wisdom, and what a blessing we have connected with this story today.
Thank you, Helen, for posting the link to my blog. The story of David at Ziklag absolutely fascinates me. In this story everyone was at their point of convergence. I often wonder about the Egyptian slave. What did he do once his responsibility was complete helping David find the Amalekites? Did he return to Egypt? Did he simply take his freedom and start life over again somewhere in Canaan or Philistia? Or did he stay with David as a loyal servant? Years later would you find him in David’s court in a position of honor? I think it would make a fascinating historical fiction work.
Convergence is a fascinating topic. I once heard the Lord whisper in my ear, “I am the God of convergence.” It was a prophetic moment and I await the celebration of what he was referring to that day.
it was a pleasure connecting with you around a fabulous story.
Dear Helen,
it is such a relief to read your texts on what to do during a crisis. I am writing to say hello again. I hope you are fine and you have recovered from the bush-fire incidents.
I keep crying all day because today 11th of March 2015 at 10:00 in the morning I got divorced. I am deeply sad though I know I should rather be happy to have got out of this martyrium of a marriage. Perhaps my heart needs a bit longer to fully accept this insight. I loved my husband despite everything. And now I have to go through a process of grief and sadness. And at the same time prepare for new job interviews. I hope so much to get out of this situation soon.
Best wishes
Yours Conny
Hi Conny, so sorry to hear of all you have been going through. I pray that today and in the coming days you have a tangible sense of the Father’s loving arms wrapped around you. I pray that God’s new doors that He has for you will swing wide. May it be a season of many miracles. Take care of yourself, go softly as you journey forward. Big hugs, Helen.
Dear Helen,
thank you very much for your answer and prayers and hugs. I would like to hug you, too. Thank you, thank you. I can’t stop crying my nose is already red but that doesn’t stop me.
I must try everything to get out of here. At the end of the month there will be a job interview and I must prepare a lot to succeed, I hope that this will work. My husband did everything to prevent me from being successful in any area and then blamed me for that to feel better than me himself. I hope Jesus will give me a chance to make something of my life and talents. I worked so hard for everything in my life. At the moment it seems that everthing was in vain. But my Mum had always said to me with Jesus help you will get out of every situation and I still trust in that.
Lots of love
Conny