Self Encouragement In The Lord In The Midst Of Discouraging Circumstances

Self Encouragement in the Lord in the Midst of Discouraging Circumstances

Study Text: 1 Samuel 30: 1-8

Introduction:

- Persevering pursuit of God gives us encouragement in the midst of discouraging situations of our own lives.

- The Philistine King, Achish, gave David the town of Ziklag as his home base. One day while going out to war with the Philistines, David and his men were required to return home to Ziklag because the Philistine generals were not too comfortable with the presence of David and his men in their ranks.

- Upon returning to Ziklag, they discovered that the Amalekites, had destroyed Ziklag and taken all the women and children hostage somewhere.

- The Bible is full of accounts of great men of God who came to the end of their rope. David is an example of “a man after God’s own heart” and yet at times he was overwhelmed with remorse, depression, and negative emotions of all kinds. Psalm 38:6.

- You can trust the Lord to see you through any circumstance in your life. The Word of God is full of glorious promises and our Lord delights in our faith and trust.

- Do not neglect to encourage yourself in the Lord, just as David did, and grow stronger and stronger each day. It is great to be encouraged by others when we face adversity, but it is wonderful and comforting to encourage ourselves in the Lord like David did.

- He did not just encourage himself, he encouraged himself in the Lord his God. We all face battles in this life with great opportunities to despair as David did, but instead of self-pity or giving up, he chose to continue for the sake of all who would be adversely affected if he quit. He thought of others not himself. Also, he knew his source of strength was the Almighty God.

- We shall be discussing the topic under three subheadings:

1. The Pressure of a Discouraging Situation

2. The Posture of a Determined Soldier

3. The Pleasure of a Divine Salvation

1. The Pressure of a Discouraging Situation

- Discouragement is a temporary loss of perspective and joyful moments, usually incited by an emotionally disturbing and difficult circumstance.

- Conversely, encouragement is a recapturing of proper perspective and motivation, granted by the Lord in accordance with His wisdom and truth.

- In the midst of a great, miserable tragedy, David was greatly distressed as the situation always be with man. However, David was able to encourage and strengthen himself in the Lord.

- We are not told exactly how he did this, but we can consider some ideas that might just help us today in the midst of our own discouragements.

- David and his men returned to a city that was burned to the ground and families that had disappeared. How did they respond?

1. They wept.

- This is usually a natural response, an appropriate response whenever people find themselves in their situation or similar cases.

- Weeping is just a mere expression of emotions, and should be supported or followed by a time of fervent prayers with faith unto God. Nehemiah 1: 1 - 5

2. Expression of Anger and Attempted Murder

- Because of their shock, grief and sorrow the men began to blame David for what was happening to them. Out of their anger and fear they begin to stone David with the mind of killing him. The Bible tells us that because of this David was distressed.

3. David Encouraged Himself in the Lord

- But then we are told that David did something different. We are told that David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

- In the midst of the devastation, in the midst of people blaming him and turning against him David encouraged Himself in the Lord.

- And as a result of encouraging himself in the Lord, David ultimately was able to recover everything that has been taken and lots more.

- Today, as you face a difficult moment in a relationship, a circumstance that seems overwhelming, or a personal struggle that is defeating you, you are encouraged to follow after the example of David.

- David’s men suddenly changed from friends to enemies. One moment they were following him as a friend and leader. The next minute they were ready to stone him after encountering the storm.

- David did not allow himself to be defined by the burning and intense emotions of his men. Instead, He turned the situation to the Lord.

- In certain situations and times, our sense of identity and well-being is affected by the opinions and attacks of people, and our security is frequently threatened by difficult circumstances.

- We need to understand that our true identity was settled at the cross. The noise of the crowd, the attack of friends, and the put-downs of family may tell us we are bad, worthless, defective, inferior, and rejected.