Distress in Life

Let us learn from David, a man after God’s own heart, concerning how he handled great distress in life.

David was greatly distressed partly because of the loss of his wives, and partly because of the mutiny, or rebellion, and murmuring of his men. The people spoke of stoning him, like the Israelites did of Moses and Aaron, as they blamed David for leaving their wives and children unguarded and defenseless, and as a result they were an unresisting prey to their enemies who took them captives.

Under the heavy pressure of their grief for the loss of their families, the men sank deep low in their spirits. But observe how David responded to such a melancholic situation. He encouraged himself in the power and providence of the Lord his God. He surely understood the promises of God and His faithfulness in keeping them.

His men fretted with their losses, their souls were bitter, they were discontented and impatient with the affliction and misery, they yielded to their passions of despair and brought the spirit of one another down.

But David, though he had more reasons than any of his men to lament over the losses, he bore the burdens better. He took them all patiently. He relied on the grace of God. He kept his spirit calm by encouraging himself in the Lord.

This was David. He had taken the Lord for his God, and he therefore could take encouragement from Him in worst times. He understood that the all-wise and all- powerful Lord was his God by a covenantal relationship.

He remembered of God’s grace, mercy, goodness, and true and fatherly affection which he had experienced in former difficult times. He had hoped and believed that God would appear for him in some way or another to deliver him.

Faith in God

He exercised his great faith on his God to face such severe trials. His faith supplied him with inner resources of comfort and energy.

Yes, life sometimes gets greatly despondent. The pressures of job, family and even the Lord’s people may be weighing heavily upon you today. But don’t give up! Look unto Jesus!

David encouraged himself in the Lord. In times of trouble and adversity do we consider God’s providence? Do we regard God’s operations in our lives?

Brethren, it is our duty and interest, whatever happens, to encourage ourselves in God, assuring ourselves that He can and He will bring light out of darkness, peace out of trouble, and good out of evil, because all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28).

Brethren, in times when cares surround us, we need to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might (Eph 6:10) and be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus (2 Tim 2:1).

David practised what he believed, and he received comfort from the Lord, and thus he could testify in his psalms for our encouragement: “In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears” (Ps 18:6). “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD” (Ps 27:13-14). “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD” (Ps 31:24). “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him” (Ps 34:8). “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass” (Ps 37:5). “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance” (Ps 42:5). “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved” (Ps 55:22). “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee” (Ps 56:3).

His Precious Promises

Are you in distress due to a load of cares? If you do, then come to the Great Physician. He can make you glad. He has the medicine to cure you. The prescription is found in His Word. He has given and preserved for us His precious Word of care and comfort. The Word of God is the wonderful antidote to the pressures of cares of this earthly life. The Lord our God knows our frame. He knows the lives that we live.

As a result of the Fall, men and women are not spared from the cares in this life. As long as we are still in our natural body, sin and pain in the flesh will prevail. But take courage, the Lord has not left us without hope. He has given us comfort and direction in His precious Word which is filled with examples and exhortations for us to cope with our earthly careful lifestyles. Learn from those who have gone through this earthly life and have gone into glory in heaven. Taste of the testimonies of the inspired Word of God and you will be well in your soul.

Dearly Beloved, the next time when you are in distress, do find encouragement in the Lord in His faithfulness and through His precious promises. Despite of the many afflictions in life, we can continue to rejoice in the Lord our God. Let us be rest assured that “though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. For He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men” (Lam 3:32-33). Do always remember: “His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is His faithfulness” (Lam 3:22-23).

When we are in distress, may we simply and confidently place our all in His loving hands, and let ourselves be encouraged by His precious promises May the Lord grant us the faith to rise up above all possible calamities that can come upon us all. In times like this, may we yet able to rejoice like Habakkuk the prophet, “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”