Joel M Bradshaw

3When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. 5David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 6David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.

7Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek, “Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him, 8and David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?”

“Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.”–1 Samuel 30

1. Years ago, the small church I pastored was in a difficult position.
2. We hadn’t been experiencing numerical growth, and the budget was leaner.
3. I had one prominent church leader place the blame on me and was seeking to have me fired.
4. David, of course, was in a much more difficult situation.
5. Both David and I inquired of God about what to do. I studied God’s Word, prayed, and received biblical counsel from a trusted friend.
6. David and I both trusted God and endured in our situations. God provided, and I am in a much better situation now.
7. Go to the Bible in your difficult situations. Receive biblical counsel from a trusted friend or mentor. Trust God.–JMB