David had just won a string of spectacular military victories. But when he returned from battle, he found his home had been destroyed by the Amalekites and his family taken captive. He was heartbroken. He and his men fell to the ground and wept, until they could weep no more. But he didn’t stay down. ‘David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all”’ (v. 8 NKJV). And David’s self-encouragement, coupled with God’s guidance, led him to his next victory. The message here is that we need to learn to encourage ourselves, to pray for ourselves, and to remember God’s promises. And here’s a promise from the Psalms that you can rely on: ‘Crying may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning’ (Psalm 30:5 NCV). Joy will return - God’s promised it will. And the biggest battles we face often bring the biggest victories. Our weaknesses can become discovery points for strengths we never knew we had. Recalling the worst time in his life, Joseph said, ‘God turned into good what you meant for evil’ (Genesis 50:20 TLB). And He still does that. Other people don’t control your destiny, God does, and He’s not like others. When you’re feeling broken and overcome by the situation you’re facing, try to refocus and resolve to press on with God.

What now?
When you’re going through a tough time, say to yourself: ‘This bad time will pass. In the meantime, I’ll let this situation drive me closer to You, Lord.’