David was now in serious trouble because his men were very bitter about losing their wives and children, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the LORD his God. - 1  Samuel 30:6

David was in the depths of despair. He had been living in Philistine territory for over a year (1 Samuel 27:7) while he hid from Saul. This meant that by accepting sanctuary, he was obliged to serve the king (1 Samuel 28:1). When the Philistines prepared to fight Israel, David and his men were put in a difficult position by having to go out with the army to fight against their own countrymen. But the Lord kept them from having to do this—King Achish sent them home (1 Samuel 29:1-11). Returning home to Ziklag, however, David and his men discovered that in their absence all their families had been taken captive by the Amalekites. David’s closest friends were ready to stone him (1 Samuel 30:6)!

That’s the pits! “But David found strength in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:6). How did he do this? By bringing to mind that God was God enough. What did David discover? The answer can be found in Psalm 40, a psalm in which David records how God was God enough to lift him out of his pit, from the mud and mire; to set his feet on a hard, firm path; and to steady him as he walked along (Psalm 40:2).

What sort of pit are you in? Do you feel like David? Spend time in Psalm 40, and remember that God is God enough to deliver us from all our pits of despair.

For Further Study: 1 Samuel 30:1-31

Excerpted from The One Year Devotions for Women, Copyright ©2000 by Jill Briscoe. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

For more from Jill Briscoe, please visit TellingtheTruth.org.

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