Difficult Times

 There’s no doubt about it, these are difficult times. A sense of fear is pervasive. Are you going to lose your social Security? Will you lose your Medicare? What about your 401K and your stock investments?

 All these issues are scary. In addition you have health problems. Your job is uncertain. You may lose it. You even have family problems. Your son is getting divorced. Your daughter announced her pregnancy. Your Dad is terminally ill.

 There is seemingly no end to the myriad of problems. These concerns are not unusual for many in today’s world.

 But it was not unusual for other times and places. Take an example from the life of David. In First Samuel Chapter 30 and verse 6 in the Bible, David is facing a traumatic time. How does he face it? What advice can we gain from it?

 King David faces great trauma. His military forces have been soundly defeated. The women and children have been taken by the Amelekits as slaves. Even David’s two wives. The herds of animals have also been taken.

 Worse: his own soldiers are contemplating killing their leader (David). In the above mentioned Scripture, we gain insight into David. It says, “And David encouraged himself and in the strength of his God.”

 These adversities have a way of affecting one’s spirit and general attitude. Doom and gloom becomes persuasive. In the old comic strip, Lil’ Abner, there was a character that reflects this attitude. He was always pictured with a dark storm cloud over his head. Nothing was ever good. He always expected the worst to happen.

 I know people like that today. Everything is going down in a hand basket. The economy, the government, society, the job market, the neighborhood. Inflation is on the rise. Oh, for the good old days.

 The worst comments are about relationships. Defeatism and pessimism are running rampant. Divorce is on the increase. Children are more rebellious than ever before. Twenty five percent of children in the USA are living in poverty. Child slavery is on the increase. More couples are living together, without marriage, at a staggering rate.

 One writer gives an excellent image for a life in balance, in spite of all the negatives. Imagine yourself juggling four balls with the names: WORK, FAMILY, FRIENDS and SPIRIT. Work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it bounces back. The other balls-they are made of glass.

 Often, one or more of the other three is dropped, chipping or shattering in pieces. Spirit includes enthusiasm and optimism. When this is dropped, it shatters into pessimism. 

 General Douglas MacArthur wrote; In the heart is a recording chamber receiving messages of hope that keep you young, get pessimistic and you grow old.”

 Back to David. The Bible gives an alternative to pessimism-SELF-ENCOURAGEMENT. He had lost his family, his possessions, and his friends’ loyalty. He had every reason to be depressed and be tempted to give up.

 His motivation for survival came from two basic sources. Number one, he encouraged himself. A great example for us. The trigger is our memories. His victories in the past; the love of his family; the loyalty of his friends.

 A favorite Gospel Song comes to mind. “Count your blessings, name them one by one.” Too often we are so inundated with our problems that we cannot see the blessings we do have.

 David was used to self-encouragement. Remember that he wrote most of the psalms. The gist of most of them was thanksgiving, affirmation of faith, words of encouragement and petitions. Psalm 7 verse one states; “O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me.” 

 Certainly he would remember the 23^rd psalm. “Though I go through the valley (of discouragement, etc.) I will not fear, because You, O God, are with me.”

 The ultimate strengthening came for the source of his strength-His God. One writer has aptly said, “We assume the strength of that to which we commit ourselves.” For David it was God.

 Consider the one (he or she) who has inspired you to become who you are. Or to learn more, work harder of to be better. All of us have them in our history.

 The movie “Captain Newman M.D. is very interesting and provocative. In one scene three men are camping and gathered around a fire. They hypothesize about what they would do if informed that in a few weeks the world would be inundated with water.

 One guy suggests he would live it up: booze, women and debauchery. Another says he will go to church, confess his sins and turn over his life for good. The third one is more creative. He would get all the smart people together and figure out how to live under water.

 All of us need group help. A family, friends, a church, a club or any other support group; to help us to live under adversity.

Amen. Selah. So be it.                

WORDS TO THINK ABOUT
G. W. Abersold Ph.D