1 Samuel 30

“But David felt strengthened in the LORD his God”. (1 Samuel 30:6)

David is exiled from his home, he is hunted by his king and he is living amongst his enemy. After coming back from battle, he finds his wives are captured and his home ransacked by another enemy. As the rest of the men mourn, lament and groan in despair, he presses into his God and becomes strengthened. 

I’ve read this chapter several times and never noticed that small sentenced. The nine words that show how much faith in the Most High God could produce in ones life. It’s easy to fall in despair these days. We’ve been in an never ending pandemic, life feels ever changing and yet the same horrible things keep happening. The news is never hopeful only causing early mornings of hopelessness and how often do we just stay there? This shouldn’t be story of comparison with David. No, it should be an encouragement to us. We should see that the same Spirit in David is in us! Why is it so easy to forget that? 

Church, could we be a people that prays and responds to unexpected loss with remembering that the Holy Spirit in us could strengthen us to keep going. Now, don’t read this and hear we mustn’t mourn because we have the Spirit. No no no! We must mourn with hope. We must cry with faith. We must lament with the truth God is still good in the moments of suffering and agony. Church, let us be like David who through his faith, trust and Spirit empowerment expect with hope that God will deliver his glory and our good.