Strengthen Yourself in God

Though people of faith in God mentioned in Scripture had experiences different to ours, they are relatable because we trust the same God.  Many times the situations people faced were far more extreme than our current struggles and troubles, and this ought to inspire great confidence that God is able to help us in all He allows.  In my youth I was foolishly distracted by flaws or inconsistencies in God's people in scripture rather than emulating steps of faith they took and the LORD who helped them overcome all.  One such person is David, a man after God's own heart.  He was not a perfect man, but who among us is?  His steadfast faith could put the most stalwart among God's people to shame.

While on the run from King Saul, David and his men spent over a year in Philistine territory.  After their return from the field of battle, they were shocked to find their city Ziklag a burnt ruin, all their wives and children taken captive along with their possessions.  The Bible tells us the men lifted up their voices and wept until they lacked strength to weep any more.  1 Samuel 30:6 says, "Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God."  David grieved over his two wives being taken captive, and was greatly distressed when the men spoke of stoning him in a rage over their loss.  Instead of making excuses, trying to deflect blame, threatening or challenging the men, David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

Faith in God enabled David to look beyond the furious, tear-streamed faces and hands that clutched stones and see the LORD who ruled over all, the sovereign and living God Who anointed him king, protected and led him every step.  In God David discovered strength he did not possess, for when he did not even have the strength to weep God had abundant strength to guide, deliver and save.  The child of God finds strength to endure and overcome in the LORD our God.  In response to Paul's repeated requests to remove a messenger of Satan from his life 2 Corinthians 12:9 tells us, "And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."  Instead of removing Paul's thorn in the flesh, God allowed it to remain so he might experience the sufficiency of Gods' strength provided by grace to all those who are in Christ by faith.

The experiences of David and Paul provide wonderful applications for us even when we have never had a kidnapped spouse or a demonic messenger pester us.  When we feel greatly distressed, when bad things happen to us that are out of our control, or we are too weak even to weep, by faith in Jesus we can strengthen ourselves in the LORD our God.  In doing so we consider the greatness of our God, His faithfulness to us, His good promises and all He has done.  Because our God is the LORD over all, nothing can undermine or overthrow His power to deliver and save.  By faith in God David recovered all without loss and Paul embraced his infirmities that the power of Christ would rest on him.  Following their example in the overwhelming circumstances of our lives is most wise, for God's grace is sufficient.