Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 30

Time for a Self-Talk

All of the people were distressed. They had just returned to Ziklag and found that while they were gone, the Amalekites had raided their city, burned it down, and had taken all of the women and children captive. David’s men were so distraught that they began to blame David for the horrible situation and they began to talk of stoning him. The people were greatly distressed. David was understandably greatly distressed as well.

But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. There are times in life when the only place you can get encouragement and strength – is in the Lord.  David encouraged himself in the Lord. How did he do that? Basically, he had a “self-talk.” He began to talk to himself and ask, ‘why am I so distressed if the Lord is with me? Why am I cast down?’ In essence, David gave himself a “pep talk” to remind himself of God’s presence. Perhaps this is when he uttered the words in Psalm 43:5, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”

When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary doesn’t come to me as the Beatles allege. No, when I am in distress, it is the Holy Spirit who comes to me and moves me to rekindle my strength in the Lord. Like David, I begin to ask myself, ‘why am I so bummed out? If God is on my side, why am I in such distress?’ It is so important in those moments to turn our eyes off of our problems, off of the world, off of ourselves, and back onto our Mighty God!

Are you in distress over something in your life? Is your soul cast down? Then it’s time to take a few moments and strengthen yourself in the Lord. Have a self-talk. Ask yourself why you’re so down. And then speak to yourself words of encouragement, hope, and exhortation. God has not forsaken you. He has not left you to handle your problems on your own. He is with you and has promised to be with you until the end. Rekindle your confidence that “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

David took the time to strengthen himself in the Lord. The reality is that the strengthening didn’t really come from within himself. He didn’t “pull himself up by the bootstraps.” His strengthening really came when he turned his focus back onto God and let God’s mighty power infuse divine strength back into his soul. When we do that, our troubles are diminished and our hearts receive strength and courage. The troubles of this life will “grow strangely dim” as we turn our eyes upon Jesus.