Where Is Your Trust? – Dr. Hona Amer

Scripture:

“Three days later, David and his men arrived back in Ziklag. Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They tore Ziklag to pieces and then burned it down. They captured all the women, young and old. They didn’t kill anyone, but drove them like a herd of cattle. By the time David and his men entered the village, it had been burned to the ground, and their wives, sons, and daughters all taken prisoner. David and his men burst out in loud wails—wept and wept until they were exhausted with weeping. David’s two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail widow of Nabal of Carmel, had been taken prisoner along with the rest. And suddenly David was in even worse trouble. There was talk among the men, bitter over the loss of their families, of stoning him. David strengthened himself with trust in his God.” 1 Samuel 30:1-6 (MSG)

Perspective:

What do you do when you are facing a problem? Do you immediately start wailing about the impossibility of the situation? The glass half full versus the glass half empty is a metaphor that we use to categorize different people’s perspectives. Problems and challenges tend to test our perspective. And if our perspective becomes jaded, it’s possible that we have already lost the battle.

David had been on the run from King Saul. So, David had decided to move to the Philistine country in order to get away from Saul. In 1 Samuel 27:7 (MSG) it says, “David lived in Philistine country a year and four months.” David’s trip to the other country was longer than a vacation. He had set up house with the men and their families who had gone with him. David had been anointed as King for Israel in his youth. As he settled into Ziklag, he probably had some questions. Was God’s promise still true? Would he be living in Ziklag for the rest of his life? As the nation of Israel came to fight the Philistines, Acish, the ruler of the Philistines, had David and his men go with him to fight. However, the other Philistine warriors were concerned that David and his men would turn against them in the middle of the battle. With that in mind, they were sent back to their home. However, their home was not how they had left it. Their families had been attacked and taken as prisoners. David had a problem on his hands. Not only did this affect his family, but it impacted the people he was leading. Some of the men probably wondered why they had let David convince them to move out of their home country. With all of this turmoil, including David’s life being on the line, David had a choice. He could try to figure out the problem on his own, or he could trust God. By choosing to trust God, his heart was strengthened, and his resolve became unwavering. When you and I face challenges, problems, and difficulties, we have a choice. We can trust in our own inguinuity and problem solving skills. This usually results in sleepless nights, frustration, and anxiety. The situation can wear us down and deplete us of our energy. But, when we choose to trust God, something very different begins to happen. The situation does not change, but God begins to build up our faith and confidence in Him. So as you have doubts about how something in your life is going to work out, don’t let your mind guide you into doubt and despair. Before you have a chance to be negative, say to yourself, “I choose to trust God in this situation.” Let your words and thoughts reaffirm your trust in God, and may your heart be strengthened knowing that He will help you.