Encouragement In The Discouraging Times

Introduction:

We are living in the very discouraging times and situations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. About 3,00,000 people in the world are infected with COVID-19, and 200,00 have died due to the virus infection. The economy has stalled, everything is closed, people have lost jobs, we lost income and we are locked down in our homes. Churches are closed for worship. There is no cure or vaccine available for COVID-19. Many of us are also affected in many ways by the virus. We see that fear of unknown has gripped the people of the world. People are afraid of death and uncertain future.

Even as Christians we have some questions on our minds. Why this is happening in the world? Is it God’s will? When this outbreak will end? Such questions can test our faith in God. Fortunately, as Christians, we have answers to these questions. Bible is God’s Word and we find answers to all our questions.

Form the scripture passage (I Samuel 30:1-20), we will learn the secret of finding encouragement in the most discouraging times. David, man after God’s own heart, lost everything in the battle but he encouraged himself in the Lord in the most difficult circumstances. As a result, David recovered all that he and his men had lost and even more than what they had lost. We are going to focus a few points today, that will help us to get encouraged during these trying times.

1. Background of the Disaster:

In I Samuel 27, we read that David with his 600 men fled from Saul and hid in the enemy territory of Palestinians. He thought that he will be safe in Palestinian territory from King Saul. They joined hands with the king of Gath, Achish and settled in a place called Ziklag. David and his army fought and won battles against the Geshurites, the Girzites and the Amalekites and looted their belongings and brought to Achish. David gained trust of king Achish and the king wanted David to made his servant.

Life felt much better now for David and his men for one year and four months. They were enjoying safety from Saul and victory after victory. In Chapter 28 Achish wanted David and his men to join the war against Israel, but the Philistines didn’t want David to join them. Achish sent David and his men back to Ziklag.

2. Disaster that was not foreseen:

In chapter 30, we see that a disaster struck to David and his team. They had left behind their families in Ziklag, while they were winning battles and feeling proud of their success. But they had never imagined the disaster had struck them. The Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, and had taken captive the women and everyone else in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way. When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.

We learn that life is uncertain, we may be enjoying success and victories but immediately we face difficult situations. We never see the disaster coming. David never imagined that success and failure both were happening at a same time. Life can throw challenges we are not prepared for.

Result: The shouts of victory turned in to sobs of sorrow. So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep (verse 4). Remember, they were very strong warrior men. But when they returned, their homes were burned down, their families were taken captives.

Let me tell you that it is okay to express our feelings. Crying relieves the pain in heart. God has made us in His image. So God’s qualities of anger, grief, sorrow, love and joy all are given to us. God understands when we are hurting. When we feel sad, when we feel discouraged, we can be honest in expressing our feelings. It is okay to be honest in expressing our feelings before God. King David often asked questions to God, argued with God, challenged God why did God allow certain situations in his life.

Psalm 22:1: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?

Psalm 74:1- O God, why have you rejected us forever? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?

Even though David expressed his anger and anguish before God, He didn’t change His status of David, whom God considered a man after His own heart.

The pain was such intense that they cried until they had no energy to cry.

Verse 6a: David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters.