WHO DO YOU CALL AT THE TIME OF DISTRESS
6 NOW DAVID WAS GREATLY DISTRESSED, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.
7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David.
8 SO DAVID INQUIRED OF THE LORD, SAYING, “SHALL I PURSUE THIS TROOP? SHALL I OVERTAKE THEM?”
AND HE [God] ANSWERED HIM, “PURSUE, FOR YOU SHALL SURELY OVERTAKE THEM AND WITHOUT FAIL RECOVER ALL.”
1 Samuel 30:6–8 (NKJV)
For further reading, read 1 Samuel 30:1-25
When you are down, distressed or confused, discouraged or frustrated; Who should you go to for counsel and direction? Of course, It should be God!
Seek to know God's Will in your depressive time or at the time of despondency.
David called on Abiathar for Ephod, he wanted to know God's mind on what to do next (1 Samuel 30:7).
No matter the level of your perplexity or despondency, you should not be grieved beyond hearing from God.
When a problem struck, before you started running helter-skelter, running aimlessly or anyhow, to look for solutions; you would do well to ask God first in order to know what to do (1 Samuel 30:6-8).
Whatever happened, know that God is still God and He is still in control of the situation. Do not leave God behind, running to and fro, seeking for solutions to your predicament.
You have to calm yourself when a trouble struck and ask or inquire from God on what to do (1 Samuel 30:8). One of the signs of maturity is the ability to be calm when there is a crisis or calamity.
Initially David and his men were crying and sorrowing, but crying or weeping cannot solve any problem (1 Samuel 30:3,4).
In a time of distress, instead of weeping and grieving, you should go to God and inquire from Him on what to do (1 Samuel 30:6,8).
Whenever you are in any problem as a believer, God expected you to come to Him and inquire or ask about what to do next—what He does want you to do.
In fact, in most cases, such problems or calamities are usually permitted by God in order to get your attention.
Another important thing is, where you turn or run to at such a time is your true source—because your heart would be where your treasure is: "FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE YOUR HEART WILL BE ALSO" (Matthew 6:21 NKJV).
If God is your source and treasure, your heart would definitely go to Him first, when a calamity struck. Whatever you do in the time of distress, where you turn, who you go to or call, is what or who you hold in high esteem in your heart.
If your heart is fully on God, you would always turn to Him whenever there is any calamity.
David did call for ephod to seek God's face on what to do (1 Samuel 30:7,8). You know, he, David, could have armed himself and started pursuing the assailants without bothering to call and inquire from God, whether he should do that or not.
Whatever the calamity, God should be first of all consulted about the matter in order to know what to do, that you might not run or fight as one beating the air (1 Corinthians 9:26).
Important things to note:
• God's leading or direction is superior to any opinion or idea of man (Romans 8:14).
• You might be restless in your heart in the time of calamity or predicament, however, do not take any step until you are calm enough to discern the step to take from God (Romans 8:14).
• If you have a good relationship and rapport or communion with God, at such a time, It would not be difficult for you to be calmed in your heart and know whatever God is saying. The reason being that, God is already in your sleeping and waking thoughts—the thought of God is not far from you: "YOU [God] WILL KEEP HIM IN PERFECT PEACE, WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON YOU, BECAUSE HE TRUSTS IN YOU" (Isaiah 26:3 NKJV).
The true sons and daughters of God who walked intimately with Him and trusted in Him are easily led by the Holy Spirit on the inside of them, even in the midst of distresses (Romans 8:14).
In most cases, crisis is a test that reveals how mature you are in your walk with God.
A mature believer would not be crying or weeping and running helter-skelter when there is a calamity or trouble, rather, such would be calm and want to know God's mind.
Be calm and avoid being restless. Pray and ask God what to do.
Therefore, pursue, for you shall surely overtake and without fail recover all you have lost in Jesus' mighty name.
Peace!