https://youtu.be/FBTh1GTHCNQ

Intro story-encouraging myself in the Lord

I was distraught

The only thing I could do to get through it was to seek God diligently

Knowing that even though I was going through this for a long period of time, God still heard my praise

He heard my prayers

He was with me while I fasted

Saw my tears and eventually they were wiped away

I had to encourage myself in the Lord

He is what got me through

I even came out on the other side as a better pastor and leader

1 Samuel 30:1-6 kjv

30 And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; 2 And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way. 3 So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives. 4 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. 5 And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 6 And 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 for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

Heres the biblical context of whats happening

David had recently been told he would be king

Because of this David had to flee from king saul because he wanted David killed

David at this time was living in Ziklag

He aligned himself with the philistines

The philistines were preparing to go to battle with king saul

David and his men were going to join them in battle

But they didn’t fully trust David because he could turn on them

David and his men went back to ziklag

Only to find that the entire city was attacked and burned down

Everything they had was now gone including the women and children

Now all of the people that had been with David this whole time began to turn on him

They grumbled and talked about killing him

David lost everything, his wives, his home, and his men turned on him

But David knows where his strength comes from

1 Samuel 30:6

And 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 for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

In his times of trouble David did what he knows works

He encouraged himself in the Lord

Knowing that he would find his comfort in God

He knew with God he would be able to go through any problem he was facing

We must remember while reading the bible that these people really existed

They were normal people like us

Not super heroes

It gives me comfort to know God chooses broken people to show His glory

They all saw defeats and victories