“Then David asked the Lord, ‘Should I chase after this band of raiders? Will I catch them?’ And the Lord told him, ‘Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you’!” 1 Samuel 30:8
David’s confusion created an open door for the enemy to come in and attack him. In 1 Samuel 30, we see that while David had lined up with the Philistines to fight against his own people, Amalekite raiders invaded the town he had left behind, burned it to the ground and had taken away all of David and his men’s wives, children and belongings. David and his men’s hearts must have sunk as the saw the billowing smoke from a distance, and when they arrived, they were inconsolable. Even David’s own trusted men considered stoning him as they wept bitterly. David himself was overcome with grief and despair. But in the midst of it all, 1 Samuel 30:6 says, “David encouraged himself in the Lord.”
As David began to gather himself together, he sought the Lord for wisdom on what to do and the Lord answered. He told David not to hesitate in pursuit of the enemy because he would surely “recover all!” And, that’s exactly what David and his men did. They set out at once in pursuit of the raiders and fought them for a day and a half, killing most all of them and recovering their wives, children and possessions.
God’s grace is so good, that even when we find ourselves in places of loss, even from our own bad choices, our Heavenly Father still desires that we come out victoriously. Sure, David experienced loss, but God wanted to show David His goodness by helping him recover all.
What has the enemy stolen from you? Your joy, health, relationships, finances, or peace? Regardless of what your adversary has taken from you, just like David, your Heavenly Father wants you to come out on top. The key is in “encouraging yourself in the Lord” and seeking Him for guidance and wisdom. At the point that we are willing to turn things around and turn things over to the Lord, He is willing and ready to guide us into victory.
Today, no matter what has been stolen from you, your Father in Heaven wants you to recover all!