He Strengthened Himself In The Lord
There are moments in life when the weight of everything feels like too much. Maybe you’ve been there—surrounded by disappointment, facing loss, overwhelmed by fear, and unsure where to turn. In 1 Samuel 30, David faced one of those moments. He and his men returned to find their city, Ziklag, burned to the ground. Their families had been taken. The men who once followed him with loyalty now wept bitterly and spoke of stoning him. Everything around David seemed to crumble. And then comes this powerful sentence:
“But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” (1 Samuel 30:6, ESV)
What a response. David didn’t deny the pain. He didn’t pretend everything was okay. But he also didn’t stay stuck in despair. Instead, he made a conscious choice to seek strength—not in his own ability or even in the people around him—but in God. This phrase, “he strengthened himself in the Lord,” keeps echoing in my heart. It speaks of a posture we all need to take in difficult seasons: a return to God when everything else feels lost.
Strengthening yourself in the Lord doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it’s whispering a prayer through tears. Sometimes it’s opening your Bible when you don’t feel like it. Sometimes it’s just sitting in silence, acknowledging His presence even when you can’t hear His voice. It’s choosing faith over fear. Trust over control. Hope over despair.
We often look for someone to pull us out of the pit. But what if God is inviting us to draw near, right there in the mess, and find strength in Him like never before? If you’re feeling overwhelmed today, I want to encourage you: strengthen yourself in the Lord. He is your rock. He is your refuge. He hasn’t left you. And just like David, you can rise from the ashes with renewed courage—not because you’re strong, but because He is.
Prayer:
Lord, when everything feels uncertain, be my strength. Remind me of who You are. Teach me to lean into You more than my fears, and help me to find hope even when the road ahead is unclear. Amen