God is Strength

“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 30:6, NIV

David tapped into God’s strength in ways that are available to us, too. He prayed in the morning:

"In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;
    in the morning I lay my requests before you
    and wait expectantly." (Psalm 5:3.) 

He poured out his complaints to God: 

"Trust in him at all times, you people;
    pour out your hearts to him,
    for God is our refuge" (Psalm 62:8). 

He meditated on the beauty and mercy of God:

"One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble
    he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.

Then my head will be exalted
    above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
    I will sing and make music to the Lord.

Hear my voice when I call, Lord;

    be merciful to me and answer me."  (see Psalm 27:4–7). 

David’s renewed strength rallied his men. They returned from battle victorious, along with their families, their possessions and all that their enemies had plundered. God still makes his strength available when we look to him. With his strength we can overcome the worst times—even those days that never seem to end.

Taken from a project I edited for Zondervan in 2010 called the Busy Dad's Bible.