October 2009

BURRRRRRRRRRR!

I must confess I do not like cold weather, shorter days, longer nights, and dormant trees. I like sunshine, green grass and trees, and early sunrises and late sunsets.

But life does have it's seasons. Physically and spiritually. Often the season can fool you as well. When I look out upon the cold wintery scene, things look dead, when in reality they are only sleeping. When I look at circumstances, things can look impossible, when in reality it is where God can do His greatest work.

So what do we do in the more difficult seasons of our lives? When hope seems to be fading or non-existent and the enemy seems to have won out?

I believe we can see the answer in the life of David in 1 Samuel 30.

David and his men had returned from battle to their hometown, Ziklag, clad in armor and no doubt looking forward to being with their families and friends. But as they came over the horizon of their hometown, they were greeted with a devastating scene of destruction of an enemy that had burnt their town to the ground and taken everyone captive.

Overcome by sorrow and tears, these great warriors led by Israel's next king, David, were infuriated with David. Their talk was to stone him. 

David was at what was probably the lowest point in his life. This season of his life looked impossible and he literally was staring into the face of death. But it is at this point in David's life that we can discover how we should face the most difficult seasons of our lives.

Don't Give Up!!!

Here are the words from the scripture in 1 Samuel 30:6c:

"But David found strength in the Lord His God."

Thank God for the "but" in the story!

Two things were happening when it appeared the enemy had won out.

1) King Saul who had been pursuing David to kill him had been rejected by God for his wickedness, which meant David's reign as king was about to begin.

2) The loved ones, young and old, who had been captured by the enemy were all safe and God gave them back to David and his men, as well as victory over the enemy and the plunder the enemy had taken from the Philistines. Only 400 of the enemy, the Amalekites, escaped alive on camels.

When it appears the enemy has won out, do as David did, turn to the Lord your God and find strength in Him.

There have been times in my own life where the enemy has come into my own home while I was on the battle front for the Lord, and it appeared the enemy won out, capturing the people I loved. BUT, as I turned to the Lord for my strength, the enemy was defeated and that which had been taken has been or is being restored. Be encouraged in the Lord our God!

Please keep this ministry in your prayers.
Pastor Rick Messer / Pastor of a church without walls