When My Back is Against the Wall...

   I "accidentally" stumbled upon this scripture this morning while having my quiet time... well I really don't think it was an accident simply because I've been guilty of what I am about to address to many times. Truth is, I feel like I'm not alone, in fact you have probably been in this place before and was unsure what to do or where you could turn.
   King David was in the midst of a storm. He was facing a difficult situation, and his back was against the wall. Feeling all alone with no one to help can be a very depressing time. 1 Samuel 30:6 says, "But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God." The word the New American Standard translates "strengthened," can also be translated "encouraged." If you were to back up a couple of verses you would find that King David's home base had been attacked and destroyed by the Amalekites. They came in while David and the rest of his men were gone and burnt down the city, captured all his warrior's wives and children and even took the kings wives. The scripture tells us that upon the men returning and seeing this devastation they wept till the point of exhaustion. Can you imagine the sorrow these men must have felt? For these mighty men of war to weep to the point of exhaustion? The sorrow turned to bitterness and raging anger that was eventually turned toward David himself adding to his feeling of helplessness.
   Have you ever been in a situation where you felt your life was spinning out of control? Have you ever been in a situation where you felt you were responsible but didn't know how you were going to handle it? Have you ever been in a situation where you felt all eyes were on you and your back was against the wall, and no one was there to help? Sure you have! I have! David was in a place where he couldn't rely on anyone, or anything. His family was gone, his warriors were angry towards him, and his usual support wasn't there.
   My wife and I were given  a wall sign a few years back by a member of our church when we were going through a extremely difficult time and our backs were against the wall. We now have it in our bedroom to remind us every night and every morning of the difficulty of life, and it reads, " God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, nor sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way."
    There are days when the feeling sorry for myself attitude reigns supreme in my life. There are days when it seems most appropriate...but it has never been productive! I am entrusted by those who love me most to be productive. How do you suppose David's family and the families of his men would have fared if he would have allowed this situation to push him into hiding and caused him to get the feel sorry for himself blues and not react? How do you suppose they would have fared if he had gotten mad at God and turned his sorrow and frustration toward God? Instead, the scripture says David kept his composure and encouraged...or strengthened himself in the Lord. He didn't call around and see how many others felt the same way he did, he didn't seek out those to feel sorry for him, he didn't join a victim of the month club...he trusted in his relationship with God. Sometimes I feel God has to remove all we can find comfort in, in order for us to rely more solely upon Him and strengthen our relationship.
   Dear reader, there are going to be times when you have to motivate yourself, God's going to block those comfort zones. There are going to be those times when God wants us to strengthen ourselves in Him. Paul said it this way, " I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me," Phil. 4:13. That's self-motivation...that's trusting and knowing that God is there and He cares, He's just wanting you to trust Him. When no one else is there - He is!! Will you encourage yourself... that is strengthen yourself in Him today?
   David immediately inquired of God in verse 8 and in the same verse God told him what needed to be done. I'm not sure what it is you are going through today, or this week, or month, but I'm confident God knows, and He's waiting. My wife says we shouldn't waist these difficult times by letting them devour us, instead we should allow them to empower us. Don't know about you...but I think I will! Thanks for taking the time to read, and God bless...