25 April 2024 - Problems cause us to Trust in God

I want to start this morning with a song from the Christian Hymnal, series 3 – Trust in the Lord: “Trust in the Lord and don’t despair, He is a friend so true! No matter what your troubles are, Jesus will see you through. Sing, when the day is bright, Sing, through the darkest night. Every day, all the way, let us sing, sing, sing!”

Problems cause us to trust in God. In 1 Samuel 30 we see that David was greatly distressed.

1 Samuel 30:4-6(NKJV) Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David’s two wives,…. had been taken captive. Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people were grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

Verse 6 in the KJV is strong: But David encouraged himself in the Lord. There will be times when we must talk to ourselves. When all seems to be lost and it feels as if there is no hope, we must know how to encourage and strengthen ourselves. David found himself completely alone. There was no one else on his side. No one, but the God he served. So, he encouraged himself in the Lord.

Like David, many of us are distressed over our sons, daughters, family, friends, and the future. Picture David’s situation. His enemy seemed to have conquered him. His family was captured. His own men turned against him.

David knew that no chariots nor horses could help him unless he had God’s blessing. He knew this because he remembered - Psalm 20:7(ESV) Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. He remembered how the Lord helped him in the past.

1 Samuel 17:46-48(NLT) Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!” As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him.

When you feel distressed and discouraged, remember how many times God has delivered you, and you will be encouraged.

When nothing else will work, encourage yourself in the Lord. Do it, with the word of God.

“Be assured, if you walk with Him and look to Him, and expect help from Him, He will never fail you.” – George Mueller