What to do when everything goes wrong!

1Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake 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.

Nothing is going right for David. The Philistines have mounted an attack against Israel and he is with the Philistines. The Philistines do not trust him. He has to be worried about what is going to happen to his men and him. King Achish sends him away. He returns to his home town of Zikla.g to find it destroyed by fire and all of his people (over 200 of them) and his wives taken captives.

If that were not enough his own loyal men talk of stoning him. He is alone, no friends. He has lost all of us stuff. He is on the run for his life. The only friends that he has want to kill him.

What do you do when literally everything is going wrong? Can we learn anything from David’s example?

David encouraged himself in the Lord. He goes alone with God. He lays out his complaint. Philippians 4:6-7. He surely complained to the Lord. He told Him of his situation. Somewhere in the middle of his prayer time David began to feel better. He had to feel better by faith because the only thing that would have changed would have been what God did in his heart.

I am sure that he realized that God is a God who hears and answers prayer. Psalm 66:20. He gives God his petition. He begs God to work. He believes God Hebrews 11:6. He thanks God. Then the peace of God floods over his soul because he knows that God has heard his prayers and will answer.

He then controls his thoughts and thinks only the truth that he finds in the Bible. Philippians 4:8.

Do you see the application to your life? Everything can be going wrong. Nothing seems to be right. It would appear that God Himself has left. At least that is what Satan would have you think.

I challenge you right now to encourage yourself in the Lord. Take your requests and make them known to God. Beg Him to work in your life. Thank Him already for the answer that He is going to give. Then get up convinced that the God of Heaven has heard and will answer your prayers and meet your needs.

David got up. He called for the priests and said, ask God what He wants me to do. I will do it. God gave Him the victory just like He will do for you. When everything goes wrong then it is time to encourage yourself in the Lord.