Introduction

Good morning, church family! When life gets tough, we all need a little encouragement, don't we? And sometimes, we can't find that encouragement from the people around us, but we can always find it in God. Today, we're going to dive into 1 Samuel 30:1-6, where David found strength in the midst of a terrible adversity.

Charles Spurgeon, a man whose preaching has inspired countless Christians, once said, "I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages." It's like saying, when life gets hard, we can find our strength in God.

Let's read the passage together:

"Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way. And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. David's two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God."

The Power of Encouragement

The power of encouragement is a force that can turn the tide of despair into a wave of hope, and it is a force that can transform a moment of weakness into a moment of strength.

Beyond control: In the passage we read, David found himself in a situation that was beyond his control. His city was burned, his family was taken captive, and his own men were talking about stoning him. Yet, in the midst of this overwhelming adversity, David found encouragement not from his men, not from his circumstances, but from the Lord his God.

Strength and hope: The power of encouragement is not just about receiving words of comfort or affirmation from others. It's about finding strength and hope in the midst of adversity. It's about looking beyond the present circumstances and seeing the bigger picture. It's about recognizing that even in the darkest moments, God is still in control and His plans for us are good.

Didn't allow his circumstances to dictate his response: Instead, he chose to find encouragement in the Lord. He chose to focus on God's faithfulness and His promises, rather than on his present circumstances. This is a powerful lesson for us today. When we face adversity, we have a choice. We can focus on our problems, or we can focus on God's promises. We can allow our circumstances to discourage us, or we can find encouragement in the Lord.

Inspiring others: David's decision to find encouragement in the Lord not only strengthened him, but it also inspired his men. They saw David's faith in action, and it encouraged them to keep going, to keep fighting, to keep believing.

Lifting up the spirits of those around us: It's about inspiring others to keep going, to keep fighting, to keep believing. It's about showing others that even in the midst of adversity, there is hope, there is strength, there is courage.

Can transform lives: It can turn despair into hope, weakness into strength, and adversity into opportunity.

Finding Strength in Adversity

It is in the crucible of adversity that our character is tested and refined ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO