As the old saying goes, “When it rains, it pours.” Have you ever had a season where one challenging event after another happened? You had just recovered from one battle, and the next one began. You looked to God and pleaded, ‘Please no more.’
These are the times when life can feel overwhelming. And it’s quite easy to want to disengage from the fight and tend to your wounds.
In 1 Samuel 30, we see David facing a challenging situation. From the scripture, we learn that the Amalekites had invaded the land. They captured the wives and children of David and his men. They burned the city. They took the spoils.
When David and his men arrived, they found a city devastated. They discovered that their wives and children were missing. They were overwhelmed by their grief, and David and his men wept until they could not weep anymore.
In verse six of the King James Version, it says that David was distressed. He was mourning the capture of his wives and people. And, in their grief, his men spoke of stoning him. David had every right to be overwhelmed. This is the place where many would disengage or give up hope. But, in the same verse, it says, “But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”
This is important because David shifted his focus from his grief and distress to God. In verse eight, David inquired to God as to what he should do. Should he pursue the Amalekites? If he did, would he overtake them?
God’s response was, “Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.” After this confirmation, David pursued his enemy, smote them, and recovered what was stolen.
Although this is an example of a military battle, we can use it as an analogy to the battles we face as Christians. There are times when we, like David, are greatly distressed and grieved. At this point, it is quite easy to want to disengage and focus on our grief or on the opinions and comments of others. But this is the time when we need to seek God and ask for our battle plans.
We encourage you to be like David. Get away from things that hold you back and distract you. Close off the voices of those murmuring against you. Focus and inquire after God. Stay in the fight, wait for God’s command, and you will pursue and recover all.
And remember you have another example, in Job, of a person who lost everything. After all he lost (family, health, and property), it would have been easy for Job to give up and disengage. But regardless of what he saw, how he felt, and the comments from his friends, Job kept his focus on God. And Job was blessed even greater.
We admonish you to never lose hope in or focus on God. God will keep the promises He made to you. Despite what you see, or don’t see, stay in the fight. When you see yourself falling or holding back, remind yourself to stay in the fight. For you shall pursue and recover all.
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