It is a strange phenomenon that in life we can be overwhelmed with the trials that come our way. Even the very best of Christians can suffer with anxiety and discouragement. Of course, we are all aware of Job and Moses and Elijah and Jonah who were all great men of God but all who became so discouraged that they asked God to kill them and take their lives.
I am reminded of another man by the name of David. It was David in I Samuel 17 who slew Goliath, the giant of the Philistines, but who just simply eleven chapters later says,
“And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.” —I Samuel 27:1
David came to the point where he decided to join the enemy over which he had such a great victory just a few chapters before. Let me briefly remind us how discouragement invades and overwhelms our hearts.
“David said in his heart.” The heart is the emotional center of man. Therefore, guard your heart. Our heart is in our brain; therefore, it is very important that we think on right things and good things, virtuous things, for as a man “thinketh in his heart, so is he.”
After David thought wrongly, he spoke wrongly. David said, “I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul.” When a person begins to say things that are wrong, he has already thought things that are wrong. Let’s guard our mouths, put a seal on our lips. Let us please guard what we say today.
His discouragement led to action. “There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines.”
His discouragement caused others to go down the path of discouragement.
“And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.” I Samuel 27:2
Therefore, we must guard our mind, our mouth, our actions, and our influence. How can this be achieved?
1. Place the Word of God in your heart.
Isaiah 26:3: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
Philippians 4:8: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
2. Pray.
God’s Word says in Psalm 120:1, “In my distress I called unto the Lord, and he heard me.”
3. Go the House of God
Do what Hezekiah did when he had great heartache in his life. He went to the house of God. When trials and difficulties and disappointments come, do not wander away from God’s house; instead, get to God’s house.
4. Involve yourself with the needs of others.
Help others on the pathway of life. Otherwise, we become absorbed with our own problems.
“Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Philippians 2:4
It is my prayer that each one of us will have a wonderful day of victory, for this is how God wants us to live. “But thanks be unto God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” I Corinthians 15:57. I pray that these ingredients will be a help to each one of us. God bless you.
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Pastor Trieber
Pastor Trieber has served as the pastor of the North Valley Baptist Church since March of 1976. He is also the President of Golden State Baptist College.
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