Line Upon Line

Have you ever had "one of those days" when nothing seems to go your way -- when everything you've done is undone -- when all the news is bad news?

All of us have experienced such days. Whether in business, family and other relationships, or our personal health and well-being, life can present us with many unexpected challenges.

The Bible records such a day in the life of David. He and his men had returned home from the field of battle to find that the Amalekites had burned their city, Ziklag, and had taken their wives and children captive. It is hard for us to imagine the emotion of such a moment, but in First Samuel we read:

"So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. David's two wives had been captured. Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God."
-- 1 Samuel 30:4-6 (NIV)

If dealing with their loss wasn't bad enough, the sorrow of David's men turned to anger against their leader, and they began blaming him for their troubles, and talked of killing him.

Yet, when faced with all this, David turned to God, encouraged himself in the Lord, and found strength to walk through this trial.

When the world turns against you and things are crashing in on you, do what David did -- encourage yourself in the Lord! Begin to speak aloud of His faithfulness and goodness. Give Him thanks for His unfailing love. Reaffirm your faith in His Word.

Regardless of what you might face, you can encourage yourself in the fact that God is faithful -- and all things really do work together for the good of them who love and put their trust in Him. Remember, Jesus is always with you -- and will never forsake you.