David was fleeing from King Saul who wanted to take his life. He had lived among the Philistines in a place called Ziklag. When the Philistines were going to battle on one occasion, David and his men went to help them. Some of the Philistines thought David would turn on them so they were sent back home.
Upon arriving at Ziklag they saw that the Amalekites had taken all of their wives and sons and daughters. No one was put to death, but they were taken. The men were grieving this loss and were talking of stoning David because they grieved for their sons and daughters. In 1 Samuel 30:6 we read, “Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.” (NASB)
Did you notice the last part of that verse? When everything looked like it would not work out what did David do? He did not fall apart. He did not play the blame game. He did not flee. He did not throw up his hands in despair. But he strengthened himself in God. I like that verse of Scripture. I like to know that David turned to the One who would be able to deliver him. David went to God. He spoke to God, and the Lord told him to go after the people. They did and destroyed the Amalekites and returned to Ziklag.
What do you do when things are not going well for you? Do you wring your hands in despair? Do you try to blame someone else? The best action that any of us can take is to strengthen ourselves in the Lord. Take it to God. That’s what David did. He talked to God. But after that you must seek to do His will. Jesus said, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them…” (Matthew 7:24) James tells us in (James 1:22), “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”
An important part of this is that you have to believe in God and that He will be there to help you. David did. Do you? If you have never surrendered your will in obedience to God as the New Testament tells us, do you truly expect Him to give you what you ask? He cares about those who are His. David would say, “I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread.” (Psalm 37:25) Get your strength from God and Him alone. Do His will as He instructs.