True character is evident in how we handle setbacks. When trouble comes, we either fall apart or stand strong in faith.
Consider this example from David's life: "Then it happened when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekiteshad made a raid on the Negev and on Ziklag, and had overthrown Ziklag and burned it with fire; and they took captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great, without killing anyone, and carried them off and went their way. When David and his men came to the city,behold, it was burned with fire, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep. Now David's two wives had been taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. 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 his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God." (1 Samuel 30:1-6)
The families of David's fighting men had been taken captive, and it appeared that all their possessions were gone. David was facing mutiny; there was talk of stoning him because of this tragic turn of events. It doesn't get much worse than this! These were circumstances that would cause someone of weak character to crumble, but notice David's response: "But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God." While David was distressed over these circumstances, he wasn't given over to despair, but rather to faith in his God.
We later read that David consulted God concerned the course of action he was to take (1 Samuel 30:6-7), and the story ultimately ends on a victorious note. But, this good ending would not be possible except that "David strengthened himself in the LORD his God."
One of life's certainties is that crises will come. It's not a matter of IF, but WHEN. During "normal" times, we can effectively fake faith, but the inevitable crisis will clearly indicate the true reality of faith. If we have quietly and regularly cultivated faith in our Father, that faith will stand as a break wall against the storms of adversity. But, if we've been in the habit of faking faith, we'll fall apart amidst adversity.
To truly take refuge in the LORD, we must do so daily. Adversity will not shatter the life of the saint who slips away in the quietness of the early morning to attend to scripture reading, study, and prayer. Those time of quiet solitude with the LORD effectively build a wall of protection around our lives that will withstand adversity when it comes.
Whether today brings prosperity or adversity, may we be found as David was: "But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God."
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2011
Consider this example from David's life: "Then it happened when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekiteshad made a raid on the Negev and on Ziklag, and had overthrown Ziklag and burned it with fire; and they took captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great, without killing anyone, and carried them off and went their way. When David and his men came to the city,behold, it was burned with fire, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep. Now David's two wives had been taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. 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 his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God." (1 Samuel 30:1-6)
The families of David's fighting men had been taken captive, and it appeared that all their possessions were gone. David was facing mutiny; there was talk of stoning him because of this tragic turn of events. It doesn't get much worse than this! These were circumstances that would cause someone of weak character to crumble, but notice David's response: "But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God." While David was distressed over these circumstances, he wasn't given over to despair, but rather to faith in his God.
We later read that David consulted God concerned the course of action he was to take (1 Samuel 30:6-7), and the story ultimately ends on a victorious note. But, this good ending would not be possible except that "David strengthened himself in the LORD his God."
One of life's certainties is that crises will come. It's not a matter of IF, but WHEN. During "normal" times, we can effectively fake faith, but the inevitable crisis will clearly indicate the true reality of faith. If we have quietly and regularly cultivated faith in our Father, that faith will stand as a break wall against the storms of adversity. But, if we've been in the habit of faking faith, we'll fall apart amidst adversity.
To truly take refuge in the LORD, we must do so daily. Adversity will not shatter the life of the saint who slips away in the quietness of the early morning to attend to scripture reading, study, and prayer. Those time of quiet solitude with the LORD effectively build a wall of protection around our lives that will withstand adversity when it comes.
Whether today brings prosperity or adversity, may we be found as David was: "But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God."
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2011
posted by steve @ 8:48 AM
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