How do you respond when things get tough? If you’re like me, too often you try to figure out how to ‘fix’ whatever it is, so the problem goes away. We don’t like difficult situations and the sooner we can find a solution the better. 

But the Lord has a purpose for every trial we go through. Although we don’t get to choose our circumstances, we can decide how we will respond to them. 

I’m encouraged by so many examples in God’s Word that show how others responded when their situations were less than ideal. The psalmist, David, had more trials and threats on his life than I can imagine. And he hadn’t even become king yet! 

Because of King Saul’s relentless pursuit of him, David decided to flee into Philistine country and pretend to align himself with King Achish. Surely Saul wouldn’t follow him there. Although David was right, he also put himself in a precarious position – eventually he would have to fight his own people, the Israelites, when the Philistines went into battle. 

That day came. I can only imagine how David’s heart hammered in his chest as he and his men prepared to fight. Fortunately, some of the men from King Achish’s army didn’t trust David and refused to let him fight.

David and his men must have been relieved as they travelled back home. The Lord had worked a miracle and they didn’t have to raise a single sword against their countrymen. But what was that in the distance? It looked like smoke.

As they got closer, the awful truth was clear: their city, Ziklag, had been burned down. Not only were their possessions gone, but the enemies – the Amalekites – had taken their women and children as prisoners. No one remained in the city.

No doubt an awful cry of anguish must have gone up:

Completely drained of energy, David probably had a hard time believing things could get worse. But they did. In their despair, the people were talking about stoning him. Instead of defending himself, David “encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” (1 Samuel 30:6b)

David prayed for God’s wisdom. Should he pursue after the enemy or not? God answered David:

How encouraging! If they pursued the Amalekites, the Lord had assured David that he and his men would get everything back that had been taken. God kept His word.

What a great lesson for us when the trials of life come calling. Instead of relying on our natural default – to rely on our human wisdom to ‘fix’ things, we can follow David’s example – to cry out to the Lord in prayer and allow Him to shoulder our burdens.