How to Encourage Yourself

“Then it happened when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid on the Negev and on Ziklag, and had overthrown Ziklag and burned it with fire; and they took captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great, without killing anyone, and carried them off and went their way. When David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep. Now David’s two wives had been taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”  1 Samuel 30:1-6

David’s experience at Ziklag was probably remembered by him as one of the lowest points in his long ordeal of running from Saul. He los everything. Not only did he lose his wives and children, but the loyalty he had enjoyed from his men suffered a terrible blow. But David profited from this experience. He had been a winner. No wonder he had the respect of the nation. But one of God’s principles came into play there at Ziklag.

Principle: Whenever God chooses to use someone, they will go through the process of brokenness before their usefulness can be effective for God’s purpose.

What may appear to be a disastrous event in your life may prove to be God’s instrument to bring you to the place of brokenness - complete awareness of your own inability and total dependence upon God. Examine the lives of any of the great missionaries or church leaders of the past 100 years and you’ll be bale to find people who failed miserably - until in brokenness they learned the secret of dependence upon the resources and wise plan of Almighty God.

Hardship. Even tragedy. One more step toward effective usefulness.