“Then David asked the Lord, ‘Should I chase after this band of raiders? Will I catch them?’ And the Lord told him, ‘Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!’” (1 Samuel 30:8 NLT)
1 Samuel 30 records a story of the Amalekites raiding Ziklag, where David and his men lived, and stealing everything they had, including their wives and children. When David and his men learned what had happened, they wept bitterly, but their weeping soon turned to anger that ultimately focused on David. It got to the point they were talking of stoning him, but to his credit, David immediately reached out to the Lord and sought His guidance. Nothing David said would appease his men until David got a word from the Lord to go after the men who stole their families.
The battles that rage in our lives may not be as dramatic as this story of David, but there are lessons to be learned, nonetheless. As a younger man I lived with near constant anger. It seemed to simmer just beneath the surface of my life. I could erupt at a second’s notice, often without provocation.
What I learned was that depression often manifests itself in anger, largely focused inward, but outwardly expressed through mistreatment of others. It’s as if we verbalize how we feel about ourselves but can only handle hearing it when expressed in reference to others. I’ve pushed a lot of people away, most of whom I dearly loved and truly desired in my life.
In the scenario above from David’s life, no amount of talking would have appeased his men, they needed to DO something about what they were feeling. They needed to channel the anger and frustration and grief they were feeling into concrete action that would bring resolution to their problem – they needed to at least make every effort to get their wives and families safely back to them.
That’s why it was so critical that David had the good sense and spiritual maturity to seek God first. Too often in the heat of our “moments,” the last thing on our mind is a conversation with God, but it’s the most vital piece in finding a suitable resolution. I implore you as God’s child to bathe your life in prayer and never allow thoughts of Him to drift far from the surface of your heart.
Yes, of course, there is a time and place for words, but when your heart is breaking or there’s such an urgency to find an answer to a critical issue, all we sometimes hear is “blah, blah, blah, blah, blah!” One thing I’ve learned and continue to learn about God is He will answer! In my darkest moments when I had no heart or desire to move forward, He’s ALWAYS met me there.
He’s closer than the air you breathe and cares so deeply about you and your concerns that He’s promised NEVER to leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). There’s never a millisecond you’re not on His holy mind. It may seem counterintuitive to believe, but there are times God desires your company without your words.
Sometimes in the midst of our crisis, the most soothing “word” we need to hear, is the silence of our Savior as He envelopes us with Himself. Being in the arms of the One you love more than life itself, brings insight and understanding and healing. It’s in those critical moments you realize that words just aren’t enough to give you what only His closeness can.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 