WEDNESDAY’S WORD
6 David 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. (1 Sam 30: 6)
One of the hazards of being a leader is that you run the risk of being stoned by your own followers for your errors, real or perceived.
In the above passage, David had taken his men to battle, but his enemies took advantage of his absence to raid their stronghold and kidnap their wives and children. His men, enraged by this tactical mistake and embittered by the loss of their loved ones, spoke of killing him.
Talk about being thoroughly demoralised! The very people you had trained and counted on over the years, turn on you in a moment of crisis!
“But David found strength in the Lord his God.” David knew God’s heart for him. He knew God’s opinion of him is always favorable despite what others may say.
No matter what others may think of you now, God’s opinion of you is of much greater importance. His viewpoint and subsequent actions are an expression of His nature.
5 The Lord is gracious and righteous;
our God is full of compassion.
6 The Lord protects the unwary;
when I was brought low, he saved me. (Psalm 116 NIV)
He knows you’re in process; He’s chipping away at the rough edges; He’s allowing you to be washed in the giant washing machine that is the community of His people — just like the way clothes get washed by the friction in the washer, so are His people, through friction against one another. And the result, hopefully, is a cleaner, brighter you.
Before He loads you in the washer again.
Tree Of Healing Ministries 