R.E.A.P. your daily devotions with Linda Bailey

1 Samuel 30.1-31

Reference: v. 6 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.

Explore: This story sounds very familiar. It reminds me of when Moses led the Israelites out of slavery, miraculously across the Red Sea, being guided by a cloud by day and fire by night, and yet in the harshness of the desert it all becomes too much for the Israelites and they start complaining against Moses. So too did David’s men turn on him. They had followed him, he had offered them excellent leadership when they were outcasts and when the going got tough, they started to turn on him. The ways of man are fickle. And so David turns to his constant aid, the Lord his God.

Application: We can never predict what is going to happen and God certainly never assured us that if we follow him we would have a perfect life. Trials and difficulties will come our way that is for sure. But something else that is certain is that God will always be there for us. “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you,” promises the Lord. In times of trial, we can rely on Him. When everyone else seems to be turning against us, God will be for us. He is our greatest support and our never-ending source of love.

Prayer: Lord, you were in the beginning, you are here now and you will forever be. Although I don’t deserve it I thank you for always being there for me, in the times of celebration and the times of mourning. Amen.